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Cobra vs Short Term Health Insurance

9 posts
  1. Dustin Riley
    Dustin Riley avatar
    8 posts
    9/13/2018 1:09 PM
    After 19 years, I will be surrendering my position and will be transitioning to another great facility.  With this transition, I need to determine what is the best option for health insurance coverage until I become eligible in 3 months.  

    For those of you that have experienced this type of transition, did you find it better to continue with COBRA coverage or shop around for short term coverage?  In my initial research, I might be able save significant $$ by going with a month to month plan vs continuing with my current plan through COBRA.  However, I wonder if there'll be surprises with the month to month plan.  Obviously I hope that we would need to use either, but the cost of health care requires the need for coverage.



    I'd appreciate any advice or experiences that may help guide me through my decision.



    Thanks in advance  

     



  2. Keith Fellenstein
    Keith Fellenstein avatar
    0 posts
    9/14/2018 10:09 AM
    I'm sure you've asked, but just in case, I know some clubs make an exception for certain positions and wave the three month time frame to become eligible. It never hurts to ask, the worst they can say is "no".



  3. Todd Bishop
    Todd Bishop avatar
    1 posts
    9/14/2018 11:09 AM
    I was in a similar situation only 8 months ago. We decided to go with Short term health insurance because they sell it in 3 month policy's and it is affordable. We had no surprises during our transition. Good luck!



  4. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    9/16/2018 2:09 PM
    We have always stuck with Cobra, even as expensive as it was, but fortunately that was almost 15 years ago, I'm not sure the short term policies were available then?

    But we had mitigating circumstances we had to think about at the time. Our son has Cystic Fibrosis, so we could not let coverage lapse at the time and him get denied because of a pre-existing condition.

    If you and the family are healthy with no issues, it might be ok to go that that way of short term coverage, you might want to read the fine print and check your new employer's rules, the way I understood the ACA, if an illness did happen, you could still buy coverage on the exchange, I'm not sure how that rule would work with new coverage from an employer. And with all the politicians have been doing to the ACA in the past year and a half, I'm not sure what rules seem to be in effect anymore.

    Good luck.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  5. Christopher Thuer
    Christopher Thuer avatar
    101 posts
    9/16/2018 7:09 PM
    Melvin Waldron, CGCS said: We have always stuck with Cobra, even as expensive as it was, but fortunately that was almost 15 years ago, I'm not sure the short term policies were available then?

    But we had mitigating circumstances we had to think about at the time. Our son has Cystic Fibrosis, so we could not let coverage lapse at the time and him get denied because of a pre-existing condition.

    If you and the family are healthy with no issues, it might be ok to go that that way of short term coverage, you might want to read the fine print and check your new employer's rules, the way I understood the ACA, if an illness did happen, you could still buy coverage on the exchange, I'm not sure how that rule would work with new coverage from an employer. And with all the politicians have been doing to the ACA in the past year and a half, I'm not sure what rules seem to be in effect anymore.

    Good luck.

    Mel


    I could have written the exact same.

    Mel, Make-A-Wish is sending us to St. Andrews next month. They couldn't get us on The Old Course even though Mr. Moir offered to help the foundation make the arrangements but the foundation was determined to do it themselves. By the time they tried the tee times were all booked. We do have a 3 day pass to play the others. We will enter the daily Old Course lottery and take our chances. Pretty cool experience for John no matter what plans the foundation comes up with for us.

    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN

  6. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    9/17/2018 10:09 AM
    Christopher Thuer, CGCS said:
    Melvin Waldron, CGCS said: We have always stuck with Cobra, even as expensive as it was, but fortunately that was almost 15 years ago, I'm not sure the short term policies were available then?

    But we had mitigating circumstances we had to think about at the time. Our son has Cystic Fibrosis, so we could not let coverage lapse at the time and him get denied because of a pre-existing condition.

    If you and the family are healthy with no issues, it might be ok to go that that way of short term coverage, you might want to read the fine print and check your new employer's rules, the way I understood the ACA, if an illness did happen, you could still buy coverage on the exchange, I'm not sure how that rule would work with new coverage from an employer. And with all the politicians have been doing to the ACA in the past year and a half, I'm not sure what rules seem to be in effect anymore.

    Good luck.

    Mel


    I could have written the exact same.

    Mel, Make-A-Wish is sending us to St. Andrews next month. They couldn't get us on The Old Course even though Mr. Moir offered to help the foundation make the arrangements but the foundation was determined to do it themselves. By the time they tried the tee times were all booked. We do have a 3 day pass to play the others. We will enter the daily Old Course lottery and take our chances. Pretty cool experience for John no matter what plans the foundation comes up with for us.


    That is awesome!

    We kind of held off being so busy with band stuff during high school and Nick was probably doing everything he wanted to do except actually make a drum corp, he was doing winter drum lines, marching band and auditioning, next thing we knew he turned 18 and missed the chance of doing a Make-A Wish. But he has been lucky, never in the hospital, they did want him in the hospital for a week for IV antibiotics and he would have had to keep it up for a second week at home, because of a low PFT, he refused (being over 18, he could) because it would have interfered with winter drum line, he was more diligent with treatments and recovered just fine.

    Dustin, I will add to the insurance issue, that at the time, our new employer did not have to cover a pre-existing condition, being they were self funded, even though we had previous coverage. I asked the question, not using our son's example, (the reason being a long story for another time) but didn't ask they right question, and we had gone to his CF doctor right before I started which triggered their pre-existing clause. Their rule was not to cover for the first year. They have changed all of that now, and have placed all the ACA rules into their plan, and we haven't had a premium increase in I think its been 4 years now.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

  7. Christopher Thuer
    Christopher Thuer avatar
    101 posts
    9/17/2018 7:09 PM
    Mel,

    John has a checkup Wednesday at Riley. Symdeko seems to be helping him but the test results are what matters and he will be tested then. He doesn't seem to have the CF cough as much and he says he is gaining weight. He does though have a daily weight lifting class in school so that may be the reason. (He is now hitting the golf ball as far or further than me) He too still has yet to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. He had a close call a couple of summers ago but his Dr. allowed him to take some stronger antibiotics at home and return to see her after 2 weeks and maybe be admitted. His functions improved enough not to.

    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN

  8. Christopher Thuer
    Christopher Thuer avatar
    101 posts
    9/19/2018 5:09 PM
    Mel. Just got home from Riley. lung function 94, up from 79 in June. weight up 3 lbs, double his 3 month average increase.

    Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN

  9. Melvin Waldron
    Melvin Waldron avatar
    43 posts
    9/20/2018 4:09 PM
    Christopher Thuer, CGCS said: Mel. Just got home from Riley. lung function 94, up from 79 in June. weight up 3 lbs, double his 3 month average increase.


    That's great, I didn't go the last time since he had transitioned over to the adult side and went right before going back to school, he had gained some weight over the summer I think from working at McDonalds and eating it on breaks all the time, and I think his lung function got into the low 90's. We always worry that he doesn't eat right back at school.

    Mel

    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO

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