Comments on: COBRA and Health Insurance–Do you have to pay through the nose, or is there a way to save? http://askcolleenking.com/2009/03/cobra-and-health-insurance-do-you-have-to-pay-through-the-nose-or-is-there-a-way-to-save/ All the questions you've had about health insurance, life insurance, annuities and long term care insurance (but were afraid to ask) Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:37:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Colleen http://askcolleenking.com/2009/03/cobra-and-health-insurance-do-you-have-to-pay-through-the-nose-or-is-there-a-way-to-save/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Colleen Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:26:17 +0000 http://askcolleenking.com/?p=170#comment-112 HI Jody, Sorry to be slow in responding! You are really stuck between a rock and a hard place in this case. Examples such as what you asked about, either religious or professional organizations, are generally going to be 'association' plans. These types of plans you usually have to go through underwriting so you are in the same boat. When did you lose your job? The COBRA subsidy has been extended, so if you lost your job between September 1 2008 and now February 28th (which obviously you have) check into continuing your COBRA with the 65% subsidy. The length of time you can keep that has also been extended from 9 months to 15 months, so hopefully that will make it more affordable. If you are in California and have a small business, minimum of 2 employees, you can consider a small group health plan. They are guaranteed issue regardless of your health status when your business is set up within specific guidelines. Best of luck on this, I know it's a huge problem for a lot of people, and I hate when I don't have the answer. HI Jody,

Sorry to be slow in responding!
You are really stuck between a rock and a hard place in this case. Examples such as what you asked about, either religious or professional organizations, are generally going to be ‘association’ plans. These types of plans you usually have to go through underwriting so you are in the same boat.

When did you lose your job? The COBRA subsidy has been extended, so if you lost your job between September 1 2008 and now February 28th (which obviously you have) check into continuing your COBRA with the 65% subsidy. The length of time you can keep that has also been extended from 9 months to 15 months, so hopefully that will make it more affordable.

If you are in California and have a small business, minimum of 2 employees, you can consider a small group health plan. They are guaranteed issue regardless of your health status when your business is set up within specific guidelines.

Best of luck on this, I know it’s a huge problem for a lot of people, and I hate when I don’t have the answer.

]]> By: Jody Gittleman http://askcolleenking.com/2009/03/cobra-and-health-insurance-do-you-have-to-pay-through-the-nose-or-is-there-a-way-to-save/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Jody Gittleman Mon, 04 Jan 2010 05:03:26 +0000 http://askcolleenking.com/?p=170#comment-111 Hi Colleen. I lost my job in Sept. 09. My employer is paying for 6 months of Cobra, which will end in March 2010. I have major pre-existing conditions which would make me uninsurable on an individual plan. Are there any other group plans I could join, such as a religious or professional organization? Do you have any similar recommendations? Thanks. Hi Colleen. I lost my job in Sept. 09. My employer is paying for 6 months of Cobra, which will end in March 2010. I have major pre-existing conditions which would make me uninsurable on an individual plan. Are there any other group plans I could join, such as a religious or professional organization? Do you have any similar recommendations? Thanks.

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