Hello all,
I surely hope you can give me some advice. I am covered under my husband's private health insurance plan through his employer, and he just lost his job. We will be covered until the end of the month and then I guess we will be eligible for COBRA, but highly doubt we will be able to afford it.
I don't work - we relied stickily upon his salary. I have not worked since 2007, but not due to my illness, which was not discovered until 2010. I am not getting any treatment yet as they told me I am smoldering, so I just get tested every 3 months.
I don't know where to even begin, how do I find heath insurance now? I live in New York. Can anyone help or give me a few starting points? How would I find private health insurance?
Thank you to anybody who may be able to give me a bit of help. I am so very nervous right now and don't know what to think or do.
God bless.
Forums
8 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
You can look for a ACA (Obamacare) plan here: https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
Because your husband lost his job and therefore lost the insurance that covers you, that qualifies as a "life event", which means you you don't have to wait until the next enrollment period to enroll. Based on your income, you may also further qualify for a government subsidy for the selected plan.
I don't know anything about NY insurance law, but different states also have different insurance safety nets in addition to ACA.
Because your husband lost his job and therefore lost the insurance that covers you, that qualifies as a "life event", which means you you don't have to wait until the next enrollment period to enroll. Based on your income, you may also further qualify for a government subsidy for the selected plan.
I don't know anything about NY insurance law, but different states also have different insurance safety nets in addition to ACA.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
You may qualify for Medicaid as well.
Best wishes,
Alex
Best wishes,
Alex
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dnalex - Name: Alex N.
- Who do you know with myeloma?: mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
Alex is right. Note that if the NY's ACA system is anything like Colorado's system, the ACA application process should automatically pop you into the Medicaid system, provided you qualify.
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Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
Oh my goodness,
Thank you both for responding and giving me some hope. Do multiple myeloma specialists accept Medicaid? That is another issue that I have not a clue about, I don't know anything abut Medicaid or how that works.
Would this only be a temporary situation until we can get back on our feet and get employer coverage when my husband finds new employment?
I can't thank you enough for helping me out.
Thank you both for responding and giving me some hope. Do multiple myeloma specialists accept Medicaid? That is another issue that I have not a clue about, I don't know anything abut Medicaid or how that works.
Would this only be a temporary situation until we can get back on our feet and get employer coverage when my husband finds new employment?
I can't thank you enough for helping me out.
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Anonymous 22
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
I'm very sorry to hear about your husband's job loss coming on top of your smoldering multiple myeloma. I would contact your multiple myeloma treatment center, or local hospital, and ask if they have a Patient Navigator who can help guide you through the Healthcare Exchange enrollment process.
Patient Navigators have gone through quite a bit of training re: the Healthcare Exchange enrollment process. They can help you enroll, they'll know if you qualify for Medicaid or for subsidies to reduce your premium costs, and they'll know if their facility accepts Medicaid and other insurances.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid and need to enroll in an Exchange Plan, be sure to ask if your multiple myeloma treatment center accepts that insurance. You'll have to get your treatment at a facility that has a contract with the insurance you enroll in, otherwise it's quite likely your insurance won't pay for treatment (and you'll be battling with them trying to get them to pay, which can be a huge headache.)
I work for a small hospital in Michigan and we have a Patient Navigator who assists patients without insurance. Hospitals want to help uninsured patients enroll in an exchange or Medicaid, as opposed to patients either deciding to not receive vital treatment due to financial constraints, or possibly getting treatment but then not being able to pay for services.
If your multiple myeloma treatment center or hospital has a Navigator, I would make an appointment to see them in person. Ask them what paperwork you need to bring to help the process go smoothly and more quickly.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
Patient Navigators have gone through quite a bit of training re: the Healthcare Exchange enrollment process. They can help you enroll, they'll know if you qualify for Medicaid or for subsidies to reduce your premium costs, and they'll know if their facility accepts Medicaid and other insurances.
If you don't qualify for Medicaid and need to enroll in an Exchange Plan, be sure to ask if your multiple myeloma treatment center accepts that insurance. You'll have to get your treatment at a facility that has a contract with the insurance you enroll in, otherwise it's quite likely your insurance won't pay for treatment (and you'll be battling with them trying to get them to pay, which can be a huge headache.)
I work for a small hospital in Michigan and we have a Patient Navigator who assists patients without insurance. Hospitals want to help uninsured patients enroll in an exchange or Medicaid, as opposed to patients either deciding to not receive vital treatment due to financial constraints, or possibly getting treatment but then not being able to pay for services.
If your multiple myeloma treatment center or hospital has a Navigator, I would make an appointment to see them in person. Ask them what paperwork you need to bring to help the process go smoothly and more quickly.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
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Chris M.
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
Anonymous 22 asked: "Do multiple myeloma specialists accept Medicaid?"
I believe that the major hospitals are required to accept Medicaid, although having Medicaid may dictate what sort of treatments are paid for. Not too recently, there was discussion, for example, about how Medicare only allows 1 stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma. So, if you are looking to do a tandem transplant, that would not be possible. I don't think that Medicaid or Medicare pays for an allo [donor] transplant, something that I read in one of Dr. Goodman's columns in the past.
In any case, I think that you certainly have a lot of options. Whether it's permanent or temporary may depend on your situation as well.
I would follow Multibilly's suggestion and pop on to healthcare.gov and start the procedure there.
Best of luck to you,
Alex
I believe that the major hospitals are required to accept Medicaid, although having Medicaid may dictate what sort of treatments are paid for. Not too recently, there was discussion, for example, about how Medicare only allows 1 stem cell transplant for multiple myeloma. So, if you are looking to do a tandem transplant, that would not be possible. I don't think that Medicaid or Medicare pays for an allo [donor] transplant, something that I read in one of Dr. Goodman's columns in the past.
In any case, I think that you certainly have a lot of options. Whether it's permanent or temporary may depend on your situation as well.
I would follow Multibilly's suggestion and pop on to healthcare.gov and start the procedure there.
Best of luck to you,
Alex
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dnalex - Name: Alex N.
- Who do you know with myeloma?: mother
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Husband lost job - what are my insurance options?
Thank you Billy, Chris and Alex.
I spent much of my morning and afternoon on the phone trying to sort some of this out, although I don't feel any more knowledgeable than before I started. Very complex as it seems the hospitals can be in these health exchange networks, but the doctors may not be.
I will keep at it and just wanted to thank each of you for giving me a start. How unsettling all of this is, I just want to make sure I can still be followed by my specialist ... and it is not an easy task at all. It is sad this is now the status quo, just when I was getting used to my new normal with my health, this is now an even bigger challenge to figure out. My stress is at a very high level and I am just trying to take deep breadths and pray it will work out.
Thanks again so very much.
I spent much of my morning and afternoon on the phone trying to sort some of this out, although I don't feel any more knowledgeable than before I started. Very complex as it seems the hospitals can be in these health exchange networks, but the doctors may not be.
I will keep at it and just wanted to thank each of you for giving me a start. How unsettling all of this is, I just want to make sure I can still be followed by my specialist ... and it is not an easy task at all. It is sad this is now the status quo, just when I was getting used to my new normal with my health, this is now an even bigger challenge to figure out. My stress is at a very high level and I am just trying to take deep breadths and pray it will work out.
Thanks again so very much.
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Anonymous 22
8 posts
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