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Temporary / emergency health insurance - who to go with?

M

morkus64

Diamond Member
Temporarily unemployed - thinking temporary health insurance is probably a pretty good idea. What companies have you all had good experience with?

TIA
 
Why not just take COBRA from your previous employer to tie you over until your next job? If you were involuntarily terminated the government pays for 65% of the COBRA premium.
 
I didn't get fired, I quit, and I rarely go to the doctor voluntarily anyway, so I figure emergency should be cheaper and take care of whatever anyway.
 
I just got Blue Cross Blue Shield. For me, as a person in good health, it is just under $36/month for good coverage for an individual who isn't covered by an employer. They have a temporary program (for people who'd have it less than 6 months) that would have cost me about $70/month for the same thing. It'll be higher if you are in bad health. BCBS is a well-known and trustworthy company.

When I was between my bachelors and my master's degrees, I lost my coverage through my parent's health care. At that time, Goldenrule was the cheapest short-term insurance. I don't know if they are a good company though, since I never claimed any insurance costs.
 
Originally posted by: TwiceOver
Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
don't you get a form of cobra from your previous employer or something?
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If he wanted to pay $600/mo that would probably work.

Cobra is such a scam.
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How is COBRA a scam? 😕 It allows you to pay exactly what your employer was paying plus at most I believe a 2% service charge.
 
Originally posted by: mugs

How is COBRA a scam? 😕 It allows you to pay exactly what your employer was paying plus at most I believe a 2% service charge.
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QFT. It may not be a great deal for healthy folks, but it is in no way a scam.
 
So anyway, getting off the COBRA train - Anyone know of good sites to get info on this? I've been searching but found mostly sketchball stuff. I'm in Maryland if that makes a difference.

TIA
 
Originally posted by: mugs
I think you're still eligible for COBRA even if you quit.
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Correct. And you are right, it is a 2% charge above what the full cost of your health insurance was. It's a lot easier going this route than going the individual route. Individual health care is hard to qualify for; if you have any sort of pre-existing conditions at all, the companies will decline you.

However, if you go the COBRA route, it is good for temporary health insurance since you don't have to qualify, and you can just hop onto your next group medical.

Who is entitled to benefits under COBRA?
There are three elements to qualifying for COBRA benefits. COBRA establishes specific criteria for plans, qualified beneficiaries, and qualifying events:

Qualifying Events for Employees:

*Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct
* Reduction in the number of hours of employment

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.HTML
 
Originally posted by: morkus64
So anyway, getting off the COBRA train - Anyone know of good sites to get info on this? I've been searching but found mostly sketchball stuff. I'm in Maryland if that makes a difference.

TIA
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Pick up the phone and call an insurance broker. They can find a plan that fits your needs.
 
you may also be able to get group rates through various organizations you may be a part of, union, alumni group, etc.
 
Originally posted by: morkus64
So anyway, getting off the COBRA train - Anyone know of good sites to get info on this? I've been searching but found mostly sketchball stuff. I'm in Maryland if that makes a difference.

TIA
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where in md?
 
Originally posted by: eits
Originally posted by: morkus64
So anyway, getting off the COBRA train - Anyone know of good sites to get info on this? I've been searching but found mostly sketchball stuff. I'm in Maryland if that makes a difference.

TIA
Click to expand...

where in md?
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Silver Spring
 
Originally posted by: morkus64
Originally posted by: eits
Originally posted by: morkus64
So anyway, getting off the COBRA train - Anyone know of good sites to get info on this? I've been searching but found mostly sketchball stuff. I'm in Maryland if that makes a difference.

TIA
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where in md?
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Silver Spring
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i'm from olney
 
Originally posted by: morkus64
Temporarily unemployed - thinking temporary health insurance is probably a pretty good idea. What companies have you all had good experience with?

TIA
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dont bother with Cobra. it's way too expensive. you're paying for those that smoke, and their wives that have cancer.

einsurance.com, and pick one of those hospital plans. you know, one of those w/$2000 deductible
 
Originally posted by: JEDI
Originally posted by: morkus64
Temporarily unemployed - thinking temporary health insurance is probably a pretty good idea. What companies have you all had good experience with?

TIA
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dont bother with Cobra. it's way too expensive. you're paying for those that smoke, and their wives that have cancer.

einsurance.com, and pick one of those hospital plans. you know, one of those w/$2000 deductible
Click to expand...

Good luck qualifying though if you have pre-existing conditions.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
What did the broker provide when you called and met with them to explain your needs?
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The year is 2009. It is the information age. We no longer trust someone who is trying to sell us something to tell us which product best meets our needs. Their interest (to make money) is the opposite of our interest (to save money).
 
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