What to do when our health insurance lapses due to late payment?
June 25, 2018 11:52 AM Subscribe
The insurance company says they are filing an appeal-of-cancellation and will get back to us in 7-10 days with their final decision. In the meantime, what's Plan B?
1. It was a case of messing up. The bill needed to be paid two weeks ago and we forgot.
2. One of us has a pre-existing condition and from what I understand, short-term health insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions. Does that mean that this person won't be able to get covered health care for Condition X, or does it mean that the person with a condition won't be able to get health insurance full stop?
3. I read that we're supposed to have a 90-day grace period for missed payments, but that from what I can tell that's linked to having bought through the Marketplace, and we bought directly from the health insurance company. Does that mean the grace period doesn't apply?
4. Does anyone have advice to share about short-term health insurance plans in general?
I saw this question which is very apropos but am still looking for clarification about the grace period and the pre-existing condition thing. Like that previous questioner, I am feeling rotten about this so if you can be gentle with me that would be great. Thanks for your help
1. It was a case of messing up. The bill needed to be paid two weeks ago and we forgot.
2. One of us has a pre-existing condition and from what I understand, short-term health insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions. Does that mean that this person won't be able to get covered health care for Condition X, or does it mean that the person with a condition won't be able to get health insurance full stop?
3. I read that we're supposed to have a 90-day grace period for missed payments, but that from what I can tell that's linked to having bought through the Marketplace, and we bought directly from the health insurance company. Does that mean the grace period doesn't apply?
4. Does anyone have advice to share about short-term health insurance plans in general?
I saw this question which is very apropos but am still looking for clarification about the grace period and the pre-existing condition thing. Like that previous questioner, I am feeling rotten about this so if you can be gentle with me that would be great. Thanks for your help
This is probably just a useless anecdote, but this happened to me about 12 years ago. Total error on my part, I was unknowingly one payment behind. A call to the insurance company, escalation to supervisor, begging, pleading, tears, and a check in an overnight express envelope solved the problem. Good luck!
posted by tybstar at 12:47 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by tybstar at 12:47 PM on June 25, 2018
I believe this is covered by current ACA rules, and I think you will be reinstated because it was within 30 days. I recently did this with no interruption in coverage. Your state has an Insurance Commission, it will be under the Attorney General's office. Call them; they will know the rules.
posted by theora55 at 6:53 PM on June 25, 2018
posted by theora55 at 6:53 PM on June 25, 2018
>Does that mean that this person won't be able to get covered health care for Condition X, or does it mean that the person with a condition won't be able to get health insurance full stop?
For Condition X - and, if they're unscrupulous, conditions a layperson might think are related.
posted by Homer42 at 8:38 PM on June 25, 2018
For Condition X - and, if they're unscrupulous, conditions a layperson might think are related.
posted by Homer42 at 8:38 PM on June 25, 2018
This happened to me. I contacted my state assembly member and their staff intervened with the insurance company.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 7:53 AM on June 28, 2018
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 7:53 AM on June 28, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by meinvt at 12:14 PM on June 25, 2018