Completely and totally disgusted.

[flightnurse2b]

i'm pregnant.

i'm moving from north carolina to florida in three weeks.

i am a nurse and i currently have health insurance.

because i'm leaving the state and my job, my insurance plan will terminate with my employment here in NC. because the rich fat cats in charge of the health care in this country consider pregnancy a "pre-existing condition" EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PROOF OF COVERAGE AT THE TIME OF CONCEPTION, i cannot get health insurance for another NINETY DAYS until my new employer's group coverage kicks in.. and even then, i can be denied.

i am pure sick to my stomach. i am completely and utterly disgusted with the health care system in this country.

so, now, because i make too much money for any assistance, and there is not one insurance company who can help me, i am going to go bankrupt to have this baby.

now i have to pay for COBRA, for an insurance company that NO provider in florida takes. what do i do? quit my job and not work so i can get on medicaid?? maybe then i can afford my prenatal vitamins???? i have to see a high risk OB bc of my asthma. can i afford that out of pocket? NO. and no one seems to want to help me.

i guess me and my baby don't DESERVE health insurance or prenatal care. shame on me for moving out of state and getting pregnant.

the HIPAA law says that pregnancy cannot be deemed a pre-existing condition for someone who has health care coverage at the time of conception. however, BCBS wants $500 a month plus a $2500 deductible and a $1500 maternity deductible. the guy at cigna said "there's nothing i can do for you", and hangs up.

for those of you who are opposed to universal health care because you think "its my money and i shouldnt have to help pay for anyone else and if you want insurance go get a good job like i did", i ask you to have a freaking heart. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL.

what am i supposed to do now????

the land of opportunity in deed.

here i am, a nurse, i spend every day of my life taking care of sick people. NO ONE WILL TAKE CARE OF ME@!!!!!!!!

:crying2::crying2::crying2:

[Jules A, MSN]

Sending prayers, hugs and congratulations on your unexpected surprise. Jules

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

This is a consumer's guide to health insurance from the State of Florida regulatory agency for insurance (Department of Financial Services):

http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Consumers/Guides/Health/docs/health_2008.pdf

Look at pages 14 and 15. You may be able to obtain coverage under the HIPAA law for continuation/guaranteed coverage, but the premiums under this type of insurance coverage are obscene. It typically ranges $1000-$2500 per person per month in my state. Florida will probably be similar as far as the premiums.

[url=http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Consumers/Guides/Health/docs/health_2008.pdf][/url]

so, if the jack in the box i talked to at cigna today tells me theres nothing he can do for me, wouldn't i still be liable to be denied for a group coverage plan, also? i start my new job the last week or so of april, and they have a ninety day waiting period. now i'm scared the job i got is going to not want me... they don't know i'm pregnant. i got the job before i found out (which was like, monday.).

The guy you talked to at Cigna was probably on commission, selling individual policies, and could care less about your rights under HIPAA and what your group plan could be. You cannot be declined under an employer group plan. However, the employer group plan COULD have a one year waiting period. Most states exclude pregnancy from this, though, and most large employers don't use the one year pre-existing conditions waiver in their policies. Translation = you will probably be covered under your new employer plan if it's a large employer.

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

This is a consumer's guide to health insurance from the State of Florida regulatory agency for insurance (Department of Financial Services):

http://www.myfloridacfo.com/Consumers/Guides/Health/docs/health_2008.pdf

Look at pages 14 and 15. You may be able to obtain coverage under the HIPAA law for continuation/guaranteed coverage, but the premiums under this type of insurance coverage are obscene. It typically ranges $1000-$2500 per person per month in my state. Florida will probably be similar as far as the premiums.

The guy you talked to at Cigna was probably on commission, selling individual policies, and could care less about your rights under HIPAA and what your group plan could be. You cannot be declined under an employer group plan. However, the employer group plan COULD have a one year waiting period. Most states exclude pregnancy from this, though, and most large employers don't use the one year pre-existing conditions waiver in their policies. Translation = you will probably be covered under your new employer plan if it's a large employer.

thank you very, very much for all this info. you have been such a big help.

i am going to work for a HCA hospital, which is a large company. you have given me renewed hope.

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

thank you very, very much for all this info. you have been such a big help.

i am going to work for a HCA hospital, which is a large company. you have given me renewed hope.

If I were in your shoes, here's what I would do:

1. Call the insurer you could have COBRA coverage with and find out if coverage is available out-of-network where you are moving to (probably not).
   
2. If number one is no, find out how much "HIPAA Portability" plans are in Florida, to meet the time gap before your employer coverage starts. If you are invoking your right to guaranteed issue health insurance under the HIPAA laws to obtain one of these plans, you must act very, very carefully. You must exhaust all COBRA rights. You must not have a gap of coverage that is 63 days or more. You must carefully research and read your rights on this. Please read these plans very, very carefully because they often cost in excess of $1000-2500 per person per month and some have high deductibles and out of pocket costs.
   
3. Find out if your new employer group plan coverage excludes pre-existing conditions for 12 months, and/or considers pregnancy a pre-existing condition (probably not, but does occasionally happen).
   

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

Here's a good and accurate article on pregnancy and health insurance:

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/phealthcare/0,,midwife_46wb,00.html

[flightnurse2b, LPN]

"Here's another scenario. Say you have group health coverage and then switch jobs. Your new health plan has a one month eligibility period before it begins and you're pregnant. What can you do? "Probably nothing," Sebelius warns. The health plan isn't required to cover your pregnancy until the plan takes effect. While that might not be a problem if you're early in your pregnancy and you don't mind paying for a prenatal visit or two out of your own pocket, it could be trouble if you're in your eighth or ninth month and have no coverage. "

this would be my best bet scenario. i can pay the out of pocket for a few visits since it is still very very early in my pregnancy. i can only hope that my new employer still wants me after i tell her i'm prego and that my insurance coverage there kicks in within 30 days (i'm thinkin its 90, tho).

god bless you multicollin, you have helped me so much tonight!

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

"Here's another scenario. Say you have group health coverage and then switch jobs. Your new health plan has a one month eligibility period before it begins and you're pregnant. What can you do? "Probably nothing," Sebelius warns. The health plan isn't required to cover your pregnancy until the plan takes effect. While that might not be a problem if you're early in your pregnancy and you don't mind paying for a prenatal visit or two out of your own pocket, it could be trouble if you're in your eighth or ninth month and have no coverage. "

this would be my best bet scenario. i can pay the out of pocket for a few visits since it is still very very early in my pregnancy. i can only hope that my new employer still wants me after i tell her i'm prego and that my insurance coverage there kicks in within 30 days (i'm thinkin its 90, tho).

god bless you multicollin, you have helped me so much tonight!

Keep in mind you may be able to obtain HIPAA portability coverage to meet the gap in between your employer policies, but it would be quite expensive - probably in excess of $1000-$2000 per month.

[KellyCCRN]

Allison,

I too work for for an HCA facility......I believe corporate wide we have all switched to Aetna....they cannot deny you the job due to pregnancy that would fall under descrimination. Also if you are covered by HCA insurance and hospitalized at an HCA facility it is covered 100% including maternity services. Congrats!!

-Kelly

[Kolohe99]

woohoooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

congratulations, allie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:clpty:

leslie:bby::balloons::bby:

that's what i was thinking when i read the preggers part; but i know the insurance issue has taken most of the joy away for you. i'm happy but i feel like crying; kind of the same mixed emotions i had when our first son was born.

as for the insurance; everyone has given you very good advice. the big problem is that the rules vary from state to state. but one thing i think is universal; if your insurance lapses, the insurance companies have a much easier time denying you coverage. so, do not let it lapse, pay the cobra even if you get little benefit out of it. but hopefully by that time you'll have gotten the "straight skinny" from florida. i know a guy who changed jobs and cobra'd for just a few days because he didn't want to take a chance that the he might lose his coverage. (his boy has serious health issues.)

[letmein2nursing]

As long as you have 12 months of continous coverage you will be given a full waiver on any pre-existing condition. You can let you coverage lapse for 60 days only or you will have to serve all of the "Waiting period". Ask for a certificate of creditable coverage....this is the only way that you can prove you had coverage

[Multicollinearity, BSN, RN]

As long as you have 12 months of continous coverage you will be given a full waiver on any pre-existing condition. You can let you coverage lapse for 60 days only or you will have to serve all of the "Waiting period". Ask for a certificate of creditable coverage....this is the only way that you can prove you had coverage

If she cannot take her COBRA coverage to another state, she will have a gap of more than three months in between employer plans. This is the problem. She may be able to obtain HIPAA coverage in between employer plans, but this is extremely expensive. This would eliminate a gap in coverage, though.

[Donnetterr]

Pregnant women MUST be added to a new group insurance policy with no lapse in coverage or exclusion per federal law. Pregnancy trumps employer policy per federal law, when going from one GROUP policy to another GROUP policy. Also, coverage under your former employer's group policy will be offered to you as required based on COBRA.

Now, if you are trying to buy an individual policy, there may be an exclusion, but going from one group policy to another, you can not be denied or made to adhere to a waiting policy.

I'm an employee benefits analyst.