Insurance issues

Melanoma is a dirty word in the insurance field.  You may not be able to find any decently priced health insurance for yourself outside your state's high risk pool insurance.  Not every state has it, but it's some place to check.  You might try insuring your family without you and then see if you can find a policy for you independent of your family.  As for life insurance, you'll be screwed there, too.  Time will help, but 3 years isn't a long history.  I'm looking forward to being 10 years out from my last primary and thought there might be a possibility of getting additional life insurance.  I know I won't get health insurance based on 3 melanoma primaries.  I guess it's one reason I want universal health care – so people like us might be able to get insurance should something catastrophic happen.  (I lost my job, too, so can relate).

Best wishes,

Janner

Melanoma is a dirty word in the insurance field.  You may not be able to find any decently priced health insurance for yourself outside your state's high risk pool insurance.  Not every state has it, but it's some place to check.  You might try insuring your family without you and then see if you can find a policy for you independent of your family.  As for life insurance, you'll be screwed there, too.  Time will help, but 3 years isn't a long history.  I'm looking forward to being 10 years out from my last primary and thought there might be a possibility of getting additional life insurance.  I know I won't get health insurance based on 3 melanoma primaries.  I guess it's one reason I want universal health care – so people like us might be able to get insurance should something catastrophic happen.  (I lost my job, too, so can relate).

Best wishes,

Janner

You and I know the risk is small, but that risk is too big for insurance companies.  They know that melanoma can and does come back years later.  It's all about the almighty $$$, and melanoma imposes too big a risk. 

I also echo Linda's statement.  If you can get Cobra and keep continuous coverage, that's the best thing.  It will be very expensive, but hopefully you can find a job with coverage soon.

Best wishes,

Janner

You and I know the risk is small, but that risk is too big for insurance companies.  They know that melanoma can and does come back years later.  It's all about the almighty $$$, and melanoma imposes too big a risk. 

I also echo Linda's statement.  If you can get Cobra and keep continuous coverage, that's the best thing.  It will be very expensive, but hopefully you can find a job with coverage soon.

Best wishes,

Janner

You did not mention when you left your job.  Is Cobra an option?  Also, what State are you in?    

Obamacare is still evolving and some States are further along the curve than others.

Cheers,

Charlie S

You did not mention when you left your job.  Is Cobra an option?  Also, what State are you in?    

Obamacare is still evolving and some States are further along the curve than others.

Cheers,

Charlie S

I know that Cobra will break you but don't let your insurance lapse!! You need to have that credible coverage letter that will carry you over when you find another policy.  I don't know if this is available to you or if you would consider it, a few years my son lost his job and couldn't get Cobra because the company went bankrupt. His wife had a job that didn't offer insurance and she was pregnant.  He went back to school and got his masters degree. The school offered insurance and that carried them over until both of them found better jobs. It was a win-win situation for them because now he is finishing his MBA.

Good luck!  Thin melanoma's aren't as likely to come back metasticized but it does happen. Be vigilent and learn your body.

Linda

That really doesn't make sense to me why they would deny you. As Janner said, you're low risk, but perhaps any kind of risk makes insurance companies a bit nervous to insure you.

I live in Canada and have short and long term disability with my work. I get paid a salary every month, plus benefits and this will last until I'm better, retired or dead. As long as I have medical reason to not to be working, the insurance company keeps paying.  This is one of the perks of living in Canada – pretty good health care system, plus we never have to pay for scans, etc.

I really hope the insurance issues work out for you. I also wish you many years of NED!

Lisa

That really doesn't make sense to me why they would deny you. As Janner said, you're low risk, but perhaps any kind of risk makes insurance companies a bit nervous to insure you.

I live in Canada and have short and long term disability with my work. I get paid a salary every month, plus benefits and this will last until I'm better, retired or dead. As long as I have medical reason to not to be working, the insurance company keeps paying.  This is one of the perks of living in Canada – pretty good health care system, plus we never have to pay for scans, etc.

I really hope the insurance issues work out for you. I also wish you many years of NED!

Lisa

I know that Cobra will break you but don't let your insurance lapse!! You need to have that credible coverage letter that will carry you over when you find another policy.  I don't know if this is available to you or if you would consider it, a few years my son lost his job and couldn't get Cobra because the company went bankrupt. His wife had a job that didn't offer insurance and she was pregnant.  He went back to school and got his masters degree. The school offered insurance and that carried them over until both of them found better jobs. It was a win-win situation for them because now he is finishing his MBA.

Good luck!  Thin melanoma's aren't as likely to come back metasticized but it does happen. Be vigilent and learn your body.

Linda

Waiting for what?  Cobra paperwork can be done in a day or two max, do NOT fall prey to the employer trick of dragging it out then all of the sudden you do not qualify.

GET the Cobra so you have continuing coverage.  I can not emphasize how important the continuos coverage is.  Lose that and you are really screwed.  

There is no reason for a delay, your employer(previous) makes a phone call, sends a fax, you sign and pay.  Should not take more than 96 hours,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,unless your previous employer is hoping you go away and don't sign off in time.

My suggestion, send a fax, send an e-mail and send a registered letter to your previous employer that you are, as of this date, asserting your Cobra rights/

Don't play with this.  Assert Cobra NOW.  Sure it may bust your budget this month, but you MUST continue coverage.

You would have to be from Wisconsin !  Smirk.

No kidding though, kick your Cobra rights to your former employer now and in writing.  By doing so, this will set the stage for you to have a month to month window to come up with another plan, but DO NOT let it lapse because if you do, you are screwing your own pooch..

Cheers,

Charlie S

Waiting for what?  Cobra paperwork can be done in a day or two max, do NOT fall prey to the employer trick of dragging it out then all of the sudden you do not qualify.

GET the Cobra so you have continuing coverage.  I can not emphasize how important the continuos coverage is.  Lose that and you are really screwed.  

There is no reason for a delay, your employer(previous) makes a phone call, sends a fax, you sign and pay.  Should not take more than 96 hours,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,unless your previous employer is hoping you go away and don't sign off in time.

My suggestion, send a fax, send an e-mail and send a registered letter to your previous employer that you are, as of this date, asserting your Cobra rights/

Don't play with this.  Assert Cobra NOW.  Sure it may bust your budget this month, but you MUST continue coverage.

You would have to be from Wisconsin !  Smirk.

No kidding though, kick your Cobra rights to your former employer now and in writing.  By doing so, this will set the stage for you to have a month to month window to come up with another plan, but DO NOT let it lapse because if you do, you are screwing your own pooch..

Cheers,

Charlie S

Your former employer is full of shit for lack of a better description.

I told you how to deal with it and why.  Take it for what it's worth.  Your chance, your choice.

Charlie S

Good Golly Miss Molly !

I told you what to do, why do you insist on being so passive?

I am really trying to help you, but you have this Cinderella mindset.  I don't get it.

Your former employer isn't going to do jack shit for you, what is it in your mind that thinks they will?

Harsh as it is, you are nothing but yesterday to them and a liability.

You want insurance or not?  If you do, you have options, but you are gonna have to get off this Polyana mindset and instead show some guts, stand up for yourself and hold your values true.

You want insurance and you have a way to continue it, but you apologize and wimp out……………………….many here would envy your plight.

Do something and quit bitching………………………..you have far more resources than many here.

That's all……….really

Charlie S

Good Golly Miss Molly !

I told you what to do, why do you insist on being so passive?

I am really trying to help you, but you have this Cinderella mindset.  I don't get it.

Your former employer isn't going to do jack shit for you, what is it in your mind that thinks they will?

Harsh as it is, you are nothing but yesterday to them and a liability.

You want insurance or not?  If you do, you have options, but you are gonna have to get off this Polyana mindset and instead show some guts, stand up for yourself and hold your values true.

You want insurance and you have a way to continue it, but you apologize and wimp out……………………….many here would envy your plight.

Do something and quit bitching………………………..you have far more resources than many here.

That's all……….really

Charlie S

Your former employer is full of shit for lack of a better description.

I told you how to deal with it and why.  Take it for what it's worth.  Your chance, your choice.

Charlie S

Mollysue —

I'm an employer who deals with COBRA issues.  That is B-O-G-U-S (Charlie already used the word I'm truly thinking).  If they let you go, COBRA should kick in as soon as severance has ended.  The papers take a day or two.

Get angry.  Get aggressive.  These people are dirtbags.

Unless, of course, you work in WI for Koch Industries :>)  The Governor says they're the best, most trustworthy people on earth…and who could doubt anything Scott Walker says? ;>)

Seriously, get aggressive with these people.  They're taking you.

Mollysue —

I'm an employer who deals with COBRA issues.  That is B-O-G-U-S (Charlie already used the word I'm truly thinking).  If they let you go, COBRA should kick in as soon as severance has ended.  The papers take a day or two.

Get angry.  Get aggressive.  These people are dirtbags.

Unless, of course, you work in WI for Koch Industries :>)  The Governor says they're the best, most trustworthy people on earth…and who could doubt anything Scott Walker says? ;>)

Seriously, get aggressive with these people.  They're taking you.