Simon
Flagstaff,#2Consumer Suggestion
Wed, February 13, 2008
I was approached by a Mega salesman at a trade show. I took the bait and signed up. This man told me so many bald faced lies and horror stories during the pitch that I should have walked away. After doing a google search and finding Rip Off Report, I cancelled the next day and went back to Kaiser. Thank god I did! A warning to ANYONE - Do NOT buy this "insurance", you will regret it when it comes time to actually use it.
Disillusioned
Parma Heights,#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 10, 2008
IN your posting, you stated that your employer coverage expired Nov. 30. Are you eligible for COBRA continuation? Were you given any notification of COBRA eligibility? If you were laid off, seperated or went from full time to part time status and your employer has more than 20 employees, then you may be eligible for continuation of that coverage under COBRA. If your employer is too small for COBRA eligibility or the employer simply decided to drop group health insurance, then many states have some form of continuation. Here in Ohio, there is a six month state continuation available if one isn't eligible under COBRA and was not terminated "for cause". Check with an experienced insurance agent or broker in your area. You may also want to contact your state insurance department about any applicable state continuation eligibility. If you were covered under COBRA continuation that expired Nov. 30, then you have a 63 day "window" to obtain individual health insurance under HIPAA. Any decent insurancre representative should know if that would apply. If so, then you can get coverage for all pre-existing conditions. However such coverage would be very expensive depending on your state's regulations under HIPAA. Again ask an experienced health agent or broker. You had better act fast since if your employer coverage expired Nov. 30; your HIPAA "window" closes on Feb. 2. If neither COBRA nor HIPAA applies in your situation, anxiety attacks six years ago are not an automatic denial with every company in every state. Underwriting standards vary with each company and in each state depending on their regulations. Assuming that you have no other health issues and if those anxiety attacks were six years ago with no recurrance (and you are not on any anti depressant medication), some companies would issue you a policy. It may be rated higher or perhaps mental and nervous conditions may be excluded, but you may be able to get covered for health insurance.