Private Health Insurance

[wschmucks]

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed 5 months ago and am leaving the US for France to go back to school. I will no longer have my health insurance through work and need to get private insurance for the next year. I just applied and was declined and was wondering if any of you have been sucessful at getting private insurance. I leave THIS sunday, I had previously been told i would be covered under the french student health insurance and this is not the case (so i didnt choose to wait until the last minute).

If you have private health insurance could you please tell me through which company. I would be alright if it doesnt cover pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months, but after that I really do need coverage. Please help!

Thanks

[dadoffiveboys]

Hi everyone,

I was diagnosed 5 months ago and am leaving the US for France to go back to school. I will no longer have my health insurance through work and need to get private insurance for the next year. I just applied and was declined and was wondering if any of you have been sucessful at getting private insurance. I leave THIS sunday, I had previously been told i would be covered under the french student health insurance and this is not the case (so i didnt choose to wait until the last minute).

If you have private health insurance could you please tell me through which company. I would be alright if it doesnt cover pre-existing conditions for the first 6 months, but after that I really do need coverage. Please help!

Thanks

What is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) ?

COBRA is a federal law that serves two purposes. First, it can extend health care coverage for 18 months past the end of employment if an individual has had medical coverage with an employer. Second, it can help you qualify for a private health care policy. For example, if an individual stays on COBRA until it runs out, you cannot be turned down for a private health care policy. The individual must purchase the private policy within 180 days from the date that COBRA runs out. If the individual obtains group insurance with a new employer, the new employer cannot charge the individual higher-than-standard prices, even if there is a long-term health problem.

Look into this.. it's your best bet. GOOD LUCK!

[wschmucks]

What is the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) ?

COBRA is a federal law that serves two purposes. First, it can extend health care coverage for 18 months past the end of employment if an individual has had medical coverage with an employer. Second, it can help you qualify for a private health care policy. For example, if an individual stays on COBRA until it runs out, you cannot be turned down for a private health care policy. The individual must purchase the private policy within 180 days from the date that COBRA runs out. If the individual obtains group insurance with a new employer, the new employer cannot charge the individual higher-than-standard prices, even if there is a long-term health problem.

Look into this.. it's your best bet. GOOD LUCK!

Will electing cobra insure me in France? That was my big question. Does that depend on my health plan I had with my last job?

Thanks for the help.

[MaryJones2]

I'm not sure how international coverage works but I don't think it would matter if you were on COBRA or had private insurance. I think it depends on how your policy is written. I have private insurance through Aetna.

You can also check out these guys:

Open Original Shared Link

P.S. Please let us know about all of your wonderful experiences in France!

[tarnalberry]

COBRA extends your existing (through your employer) insurance, so check with them to find out if they would cover you overseas on an extended trip.

[debmidge]

Firstly, you have to read your current health insurance policy to see how they would respond to health issues when you are temporarily overseas (foreign countries). You have to find out

what their definition of "coverage territory" and "temporary" is (3 months, 6 months?).

COBRA is available only if your employer meets certain criteria ...Ask your HR Dept. if they

must comply with COBRA law. Let's say that your employer does have to comply, however your insurer defines temporary overseas stay as 30 days or your insurer's territory is only USA and it's Territories and Possessions and Canada (a very common territory on insurance policies) - then the COBRA will not help you overseas anyway --- however you would need and want that COBRA when you get back to the states. So you'd have to buy the COBRA as soon as you stop working, not when you get back from overseas, and keep it in force and you have to have purchase overseas health insurance in addition to COBRA (if your COBRA insurer doesn't extend to overseas or if the definition of temporary is short).

If you do not purchase COBRA at the time you leave your job (or within the "grace" period wherein the offer is extended) when you get back to states (60 days without coverage) you will definitely have "pre-existing condition" limitation on any new coverage. Many COBRA states say that after 60 days of "no" coverage, you will have pre-existing condition on any new coverage. I do not know if coverage for overseas qualifies as "coverage" for USA to avoid a pre-existing condition. This is highly technical info outside of the normal realm of health insurance questions.

Seek professional guidance from a health insurance agent in your state before you make any move or purchase[/u].[/

For information purposes - health insurance info for each state in USA.

Open Original Shared Link