I need insurance. They won't give it to me.

September 16, 2009 7:53 AM

Insurance filter: I am quitting my job, and the insurance goes with it. As someone who frequently gets turned down for insurance, what do i do?

I'm told I won't be eligible for COBRA unless I'm fired.

In the past, I have not been able to qualify for insurance because I'm bipolar -- and now that I have a hospital stay under my belt it's even less likely that I'll get approved.

I NEED insurance.

What do I do?

Are there companies out there who will overlook pre-existing conditions like this?

I've heard of something called a conversion policy -- does anyone have any experience with that?

oh, help. this is so frustrating!

posted by unlucky.lisp to health & fitness (11 comments total)

I don't think you need to be fired; see here.

I quit my last job, as did my ex-GF, and we each had COBRAs.

This is not legal or insurance advice. Consult your own legal / insurance advisor.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:55 AM on September 16

If you have insurance you should be able to continue in a plan of some kind with the same company. If you want to stay with them I don't they can throw you out.

But they can charge you and arm and a leg for it.
posted by SLC Mom at 8:01 AM on September 16

COBRA still applies, even if you quit.
posted by knave at 8:02 AM on September 16

I'm told I won't be eligible for COBRA unless I'm fired.

You were told wrong. But your COBRA benefits will only continue for a limited period of time, so you need to find another job.
posted by grouse at 8:02 AM on September 16

The COBRA statute applies both to people who leave voluntarily and to those who leave involuntarily. If your company is subject to COBRA's provisions, they don't get to decide whether or not to give it to you. However, it's possible that your company isn't subject to COBRA, but that they voluntarily grant the insurance extension to terminated employees. If that's the case, they don't necessarily have to give it to you. You need to find out whether your company is subject to the COBRA health insurance continuation coverage provisions (most secular employers with more than 20 employees are covered). If so, they cannot deny you your 18 months of continuation coverage.
posted by decathecting at 8:06 AM on September 16 [1 favorite]

COBRA still applies, even if you quit.

Yes, but COBRA only applies to companies with 20 or more employees that have group health plans.
posted by JackFlash at 8:07 AM on September 16

I just quit a job in May....with 4 employees, and I was eligible for cobra.

Turned it down...but I was eligible.
posted by TomMelee at 8:11 AM on September 16

You could look into the high risk pool for your state -- they're set up precisely for people who can't get insurance because of health conditions. It appears you're in North Carolina, in which case Inclusive Health is the name of the program. Generally speaking, high risk pool coverage is expensive (in NC, capped at 175% of the standard risk rate) and not the greatest, but it's better than nothing and it keeps you in creditable coverage until you get to your next job with a group plan.
posted by katemonster at 8:14 AM on September 16

You can convert your group coverage into an individual policy with no preexisting conditions under HIPAA. You have to use up your COBRA first, I believe, and there can't be any gaps in coverage. However, the premium for a conversion policy may be very high.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:07 AM on September 16

Here's a potentially useful factsheet by the North Carolina DOI (google doc).
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:13 AM on September 16

Looks like there are two HIPAA options -- convert your existing policy following COBRA, or see if you are "HIPAA eligible" (18 months of "creditable coverage," use up your COBRA, some other requirements). If you are HIPAA eligible you can shop around for individual insurance (companies must provide with no pre-existing conditions) -- you may want to check out Kaiser or another HMO type company for the cheapest option. (I am not a HIPAA expert, but it looks like the NC DOI can give you the basics.)
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:17 AM on September 16