I need a navigator to help me find a navigator.
July 1, 2015 5:45 AM Subscribe
The insurance provided by my former employer ends on July 31 for my partner and me. COBRA is cost prohibitive ($1900 a month for both of us). So, now we are turning to the New York Healthcare Exchange. We need a navigator, but I'm not sure how to find a good one to help us with our snowflakes. Seeking recs and advise.
While not in immediate health crisis, we are both have pretty hefty healthcare needs (he's diabetic, I'm a cancer survivor). It's important to find a plan that meets our needs and covers our doctors. Also, I've got lots of questions about how my unemployment and severance pay factor into this. I've talked to two friends who have used brokers, and neither thought their broker was great. So how do I find someone who is? I'm willing to pay for this service is that makes a difference.
While not in immediate health crisis, we are both have pretty hefty healthcare needs (he's diabetic, I'm a cancer survivor). It's important to find a plan that meets our needs and covers our doctors. Also, I've got lots of questions about how my unemployment and severance pay factor into this. I've talked to two friends who have used brokers, and neither thought their broker was great. So how do I find someone who is? I'm willing to pay for this service is that makes a difference.
Call the healthcare.gov 800 number. Hang up and call again if you get someone who isn't really helpful. I mostly find them pretty knowledgeable. And do check with your doctors about which companies they work with.
posted by theora55 at 10:06 AM on July 1, 2015
posted by theora55 at 10:06 AM on July 1, 2015
Yes, ask your current doctors, that's a good start. But it might be of limited utility.
I'm paying through the nose for COBRA as well and have contemplated switching to the New York Healthcare Exchange before my COBRA coverage runs out, so it was with great interest that I read this fairly detailed cautionary tale in the New York Observer the other day. Now, despite the cost, I'm not feeling so eager.
The piece is about accessing healthcare in New York City under the ACA. I don't know if things are better outside the city. If so, perhaps this is not as relevant for you.
I'm sorry I don't know anything about brokers. I wish I could help with that (since that was your question). Best of luck to you.
posted by 6thsense at 11:31 AM on July 1, 2015
I'm paying through the nose for COBRA as well and have contemplated switching to the New York Healthcare Exchange before my COBRA coverage runs out, so it was with great interest that I read this fairly detailed cautionary tale in the New York Observer the other day. Now, despite the cost, I'm not feeling so eager.
The piece is about accessing healthcare in New York City under the ACA. I don't know if things are better outside the city. If so, perhaps this is not as relevant for you.
I'm sorry I don't know anything about brokers. I wish I could help with that (since that was your question). Best of luck to you.
posted by 6thsense at 11:31 AM on July 1, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for the feedback. I did call the two doctors that I most need to keep. Each have about 4 plans they take, but none of them overlap. One of the secretaries seemed pretty unsure, so I'm going to call back and check the other doctor's plans to see if maybe she overlooked one.
I've got some great help about reliable sources of navigators through PM. I'll start there after the holiday.
posted by kimdog at 6:03 AM on July 2, 2015
I've got some great help about reliable sources of navigators through PM. I'll start there after the holiday.
posted by kimdog at 6:03 AM on July 2, 2015
Response by poster: Here is the exciting conclusion of Kimdog and the Knowledgeable Healthcare Navigator. I was contacted directly with some agencies that have navigators, but not a specific person. Those listings were based on this list of Navigator Agency Site Locations. This seemed pretty promising so I called one of the sites listed near my house. Then I realized that the number was not to the specific location, but rather to a general line for the agency providing the navigators. I left a message as instructed. No one returned my call. I called again. No call.
I moved on to another agency. Same situation... the number is an intake number for people seeking navigators, and I was told to leave a message and contact. No return call.
Called another agency... the number didn't work.
The fourth agency I tried, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Foundation was the number of the actual navigator! And she provided an email in her voice mail. I left a message, and sent an email with more info. She called me back the next day. Her name is Marcia Okon (marcia@manhattancc.org ) and she was fantastic.
It was really essential that we had her help. Our situation was unusual because we were enrolling out of cycle because of a life event. She helped us understand that we were looking for a plan that would cover us for 5 months of 2015... and would be re-enrolling in November for 2016. She helped us figure out income for the year, and if we qualified for assistance. She helped us understand the various plans, and did the application on our behalf. And since we were enrolling as individuals instead of as a couple, she worked to find the plans that would best suite our separate needs. All told, I think my partner and I talked to her in person and by phone for almost 5 hours over two weeks. And she was incredibly helpful and tremendously knowledgeable about the whole process.
So if anyone is looking for a navigator in Manhattan, I can wholeheartedly recommend Marcia.
posted by kimdog at 5:52 AM on August 4, 2015
I moved on to another agency. Same situation... the number is an intake number for people seeking navigators, and I was told to leave a message and contact. No return call.
Called another agency... the number didn't work.
The fourth agency I tried, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Foundation was the number of the actual navigator! And she provided an email in her voice mail. I left a message, and sent an email with more info. She called me back the next day. Her name is Marcia Okon (marcia@manhattancc.org ) and she was fantastic.
It was really essential that we had her help. Our situation was unusual because we were enrolling out of cycle because of a life event. She helped us understand that we were looking for a plan that would cover us for 5 months of 2015... and would be re-enrolling in November for 2016. She helped us figure out income for the year, and if we qualified for assistance. She helped us understand the various plans, and did the application on our behalf. And since we were enrolling as individuals instead of as a couple, she worked to find the plans that would best suite our separate needs. All told, I think my partner and I talked to her in person and by phone for almost 5 hours over two weeks. And she was incredibly helpful and tremendously knowledgeable about the whole process.
So if anyone is looking for a navigator in Manhattan, I can wholeheartedly recommend Marcia.
posted by kimdog at 5:52 AM on August 4, 2015
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