posted
I got laid-off back in Sept '08 (due to economy not lyme) and have been on COBRA since. We still have several months to go, but are trying to plan ahead with whatever carrier we go with next.
As far as the insurance companies know, I've never been diagnosed with Lyme. My PCP, and the list of ID and other docs I saw all said "no" to that diagnosis. I pay out of pocket for my LLMD and other lyme-related docs.
The insurance company does cover all of my abx and other meds, (except for IV which they denied), but I don't think there's any sort of paper trail that says I have been specifically for lyme. However, I'm worried about the eventual switch.
Does anyone have any experience with switching insurance companies while in treatment? I would be really screwed if they stopped paying for abx and other basics due to the "preexisting condition" clause.
We switched insurances while my wife was pregnant and the new company tried to deny her doctor visits by saying her pregnancy was a preexisting condition.
posted
As long as you get the new policy before your COBRA policy expires then pre-existing conditions does not apply. The company must accept you, but they can rate you higher which means a higher premium. But this only works once.
You probably should apply a couple of months before the COBRA policy runs out to make sure everything gets processed and the change happens on the date you specify. But according to hubby you have to have been insured for at least 12 months continuously for the COBRA rules to apply.
Your current insurance company will need to give you a certificate of insurability for the new company. May be called "Certification of Coverage" letter -- includes your I.D. info and dates your policy was in effect.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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Rumigirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15091
posted
CT,
In NY state insurance companies are not allowed to deny coverage due to a preexisting condition. So, unless you are planning on moving to another state, that wouldn't apply. And you should get coverage for your IV and other LD visits, too. In order to get the IV coverage, you need to show a positive test result often.
And if you still have trouble with the insurance denying payment, you can file a complaint with the NY State Attorney General's office, in the Health Dept. They respond within 2 weeks, and get the insurance company to do what they should.
I know you were asking about COBRA, but this other stuff is important.
Posts: 3770 | From around | Registered: Mar 2008
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