After Cobra premiums

[Hangingitup]

My wife has just gotten over a years worth of treatment for breast cancer (she is currently cancer free). We are finally starting to think about earlier plans for ER again. If ER is June 2013, the plan is to use Cobra for 18 mos then, hopefully Obamacare gaurantees coverage for pre-existing conditions. From Jan 2014 to Jan 2022 when medicare kicks in, I am wondering what to budget for HI premiums. Turns out my current group carrier plans to NOT offer private insurance in California starting in Mar2013, and every other carrier requires detailed information that I don't want to give out at this time.

Both my wife and I are 55 (56 at ER). I think we are in reasonable shape for ER financially assuming "reasonable" HI premiums. My current carrier gave me a quote for about $900/mo for both of us and the same coverage during the Cobra years but refused to even guess for beyond that. But private insurance after CObra is scary to me. If HI is $3000/mo, I would think twice about ER.

Is anyone out there with a similar situation? Venture to guess at a good number for HI premiums, given our medical situatoin?

Any info is greatly appreciated!!

[pb4uski]

Try these:

National Health Reform Calculator
Health Reform Subsidy Calculator - Kaiser Health Reform

I think they will each show you estimated premiums as well as health insurance subsidies IF Obamacare remains in place.

[meierlde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hangingitup My wife has just gotten over a years worth of treatment for breast cancer (she is currently cancer free). We are finally starting to think about earlier plans for ER again. If ER is June 2013, the plan is to use Cobra for 18 mos then, hopefully Obamacare gaurantees coverage for pre-existing conditions. From Jan 2014 to Jan 2022 when medicare kicks in, I am wondering what to budget for HI premiums. Turns out my current group carrier plans to NOT offer private insurance in California starting in Mar2013, and every other carrier requires detailed information that I don't want to give out at this time. Both my wife and I are 55 (56 at ER). I think we are in reasonable shape for ER financially assuming "reasonable" HI premiums. My current carrier gave me a quote for about $900/mo for both of us and the same coverage during the Cobra years but refused to even guess for beyond that. But private insurance after CObra is scary to me. If HI is $3000/mo, I would think twice about ER. Is anyone out there with a similar situation? Venture to guess at a good number for HI premiums, given our medical situatoin? Any info is greatly appreciated!!

I would suggest waiting till Nov 7 and then re-think the decision. [Political Language Mod Edited]

[pb4uski]

I smell BACON!!!

[Disappointed]

Yes, I am in a similar situation, I think there is an insurance agent that specializes in CA health HI.
PM me for name and contact info.
Mp

[rbmrtn]

Every state is different. I would imagine that being a cancer survivor is automatic disqualification. So you wouldn't be able to buy insurance at all. If you take COBRA and use it up you then qualify for HIPAA which may a state high risk pool or some other plan for HIPAA. See an agent in your state to get specifics.

If obama care stands you may have other options.

[Hangingitup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb4uski Try these: National Health Reform Calculator Health Reform Subsidy Calculator - Kaiser Health Reform I think they will each show you estimated premiums as well as health insurance subsidies IF Obamacare remains in place.

Thanks, much appreciated pb4uski!

[Hangingitup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Yes, I am in a similar situation, I think there is an insurance agent that specializes in CA health HI. PM me for name and contact info. Mp

Thanks disappointed! I guess I can't pm you until I am a "trusted member" but I appreciate the offer.

[Hangingitup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbmrtn Every state is different. I would imagine that being a cancer survivor is automatic disqualification. So you wouldn't be able to buy insurance at all. If you take COBRA and use it up you then qualify for HIPAA which may a state high risk pool or some other plan for HIPAA. See an agent in your state to get specifics. If obama care stands you may have other options.

Thanks for the comments rbmrtn, in california, there is a program called PCIP, pre existing insurance program. It slows one to get insurance w pre existing conditions if one can prove they been rejected by other carriers and been wo insurance for 6 mos. Problem is that the program stops in Jan 2014 when Obama care is supposed to take effect.

[Hangingitup]

Thanks Disappointed, Not sure if i sent my reply properly, so in case I didn't, I guess I cannot send a pm until I am a "trusted member", thanks for the offer.

[MichaelB]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hangingitup Thanks for the comments rbmrtn, in california, there is a program called PCIP, pre existing insurance program. It slows one to get insurance w pre existing conditions if one can prove they been rejected by other carriers and been wo insurance for 6 mos. Problem is that the program stops in Jan 2014 when Obama care is supposed to take effect.

Hangitup, PCIP stops because it will be replaced by the state insurance exchange, where you are assured access to at least three plans and there is no exclusion due to preexisting conditions. The KFF link pb4uski provided will help you estimate the costs for those plans.

[teejayevans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbmrtn Every state is different. I would imagine that being a cancer survivor is automatic disqualification. So you wouldn't be able to buy insurance at all. If you take COBRA and use it up you then qualify for HIPAA which may a state high risk pool or some other plan for HIPAA. See an agent in your state to get specifics. If obama care stands you may have other options.

Assuming you go the HIPAA route, I would use 3X the standard policy rate as a estimate
TJ

[rbmrtn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hangingitup Thanks for the comments rbmrtn, in california, there is a program called PCIP, pre existing insurance program. It slows one to get insurance w pre existing conditions if one can prove they been rejected by other carriers and been wo insurance for 6 mos. Problem is that the program stops in Jan 2014 when Obama care is supposed to take effect.

One advantage to using COBRA/HIPAA is you can go straight into the risk pool plan without going uncovered or proving denial.

[rbmrtn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by teejayevans Assuming you go the HIPAA route, I would use 3X the standard policy rate as a estimate TJ

The cost may vary by state as well. When I looked at my state risk pool it was cheaper than what employer cost was paying for insurance, and thus cheaper than the COBRA coverage. It is not a "cadillac" plan by any means but it is available.

[Hangingitup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbmrtn The cost may vary by state as well. When I looked at my state risk pool it was cheaper than what employer cost was paying for insurance, and thus cheaper than the COBRA coverage. It is not a "cadillac" plan by any means but it is available.

I have not investigated the HIPAA route but will, excellent suggestions and thanks to you and all on this thread!

[Parallel]

You can check out CA HIPAA plans and rates at
HIPAA and Conversion Benefit Summaries, Rates and Health Plan Websites

[Hangingitup]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disappointed Yes, I am in a similar situation, I think there is an insurance agent that specializes in CA health HI. PM me for name and contact info. Mp

Got your PM, thanks for the info!

[dgoldenz]

I'd expect $800-1000/mo for a couple at your age under guaranteed-issue scenarios. Could be less if you qualify for a subsidy, which is not far fetched if you are retired.

[Disappointed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dgoldenz I'd expect $800-1000/mo for a couple at your age under guaranteed-issue scenarios. Could be less if you qualify for a subsidy, which is not far fetched if you are retired.

While I do not know the detail of the policy you mentioned, that seems to be reasonable for California. My PPO policy that covers my wife and me is a lot more expensive than that. I will be dealing with this in the next eight months.

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

This may not be the right place to post, but I am late to the Obamacare policys - so when I went in and did the two calculators, it comes out that we will be on Medicaid! I will be ER probably in January at 58 and plan to live off savings... and have minimal dividends as retirement funds are tax shielded 401k, Roth and flat out cash. So first few years will be drawing down cash, then minimal distributions from 401k. So is that right? That no matter how much I have in assets, we will be on Medicaid as we will have no earned income?? How can that be? Never even considered it and have budgeted $15,000 a year for HI. Just seems wrong, wrong, wrong