"IC Friendly" Health Insurance?

[Tricia H]

Hi all. I am trying to get health insurance right now, and am struggling because everyone I apply for, I get denied because of the IC and the Elmiron I take to control it . Other than the IC, I am healthy. I don't know what to do or who to turn to. I've been told to apply for BCBS, but I looked into that and you need to wait 12 months before perscription coverage kicks in, and I can't afford to pay that. Does anyone out there know of an affordable health insurance that will accept me with the IC, and I wont have to wait 12 months to get perscription coverage??

Thank you for any advice you can give! I just don't think I can emotionally handle being denied coverage again

[ICNDonna]

About the only way someone with IC can get health insurance is through a group plan, such as through a job. Most will call it a "pre-existing condition" and will deny coverage.


Donna

[bob04951]

Sometimes hospitals have an insurance advocate who may be able to help you. And the states regulate who can and cannot sell insurance in their locale. Have you shopped around online? Unfortunately the pre-existing condition clause has not come into effect yet. It does stink. There is a company that insures the self employed, can't remember the name, but google it that way, it is a large national group and they sometimes will take you on. If you do ANYTHING from home as far as making money, or own your own business, they are fairly liberal with acceptance, and have many options for coverage. All we did was sell a couple dozen eggs a week, and we qualified. Good luck! Jill, wife of Bob

[Tricia H]

Thanks a lot! I will look into that. I haven't made any money from home by myself, but maybe it's time to start lol.

[sailawaygrl]

What about one of the insurance companies that will take you and then try and get patient assistance for your elmiron. Would that work for you? Just trying to do a little creative thinking! Looks like that is what it might take. We are in insurance limbo right now and I am getting nervous. My husband took a new job and they are supposed to cover us immediately, I haven't seen anything yet. I don't like this feeling at all, ufortunately for me, I do have other ailments.
I hope you find something to help you.
Sandra

[DebbieT]

I know some states have high-risk pools that provide a state health plan for. You might want to check with your state to see if they have any type of plan like that. I know my state didn't. They had a child health insurance plan but nothing for high risk adults with preexisting conditions.

[grainypix]

health insurance search

I just lost my cobra, which I shouldn't have. I finally recieved SSD, and thought some of my stress would be taken away, there is a clause with my employer that says that if I recieved SSD before the last 2 months of my 18 months of COBRA they would extend my coverage up to 11 months. I sent all of the information they wanted and was denied because I didn't get SSD in the first 2 months of COBRA, that is what the first of the 3 sentences of the disability clause in my employer handbook says. When I call they only read the first line and tell me that is why, so I make them read the second sentence out loud, then they say "oh you should appeal" well that is all well and good but the next date the committe meets is in 4 months. I am looking desperatly to find insurance in the mean time. To make it more insulting I can't apply for medicade for 24 months, and I have tried to apply for assistance programs and they say I am getting too much money. Even though I am yet to recieve a check, and I haven't worked in 19 months and got NO retroactive pay. It is a humiliating, unfair, discriminating process. It just adds to the stress that just adds to the pain. It really has me going out of my mind. I have been so sick, and I can't go to the doctors and so I'm angry and mad. Empire offered me a cheap individual plan, but it covered nothing and they said it was their best individual. I really thought I had almost another year to prepare for this. The Blue Cross plans were $300 and down, if you fill out some of the things on line they send companies I've never heard of, but I guess it depends on where you live.

Sarah

[Agape]

My previous insurance was with Coventry and it was covering my monthly prescription for Elmiron. Wasn't too bad. Then I turned 65 and had to go on Medicare with BCBS. Now they are telling me it will cost me $879 for a three month supply. Oh my! I'm not sure I can afford this, but really don't know what to do. I've been in remission for several years and attribute it to the Elmiron. I don't want to go back to the way I was, but this amount is really going to "hurt".

[chickymonkey]

Re: "IC Friendly" Health Insurance?

I recently got medicaid through my state. It was expanded at the end of last year, should look into that, some states other than Ohio(my state) have done this. it goes by your income

I'm on care source now, and it's helped alot with being diagnosed with IC

[Agape]

Re: "IC Friendly" Health Insurance?

I recently got medicaid through my state. It was expanded at the end of last year, should look into that, some states other than Ohio(my state) have done this. it goes by your income

I'm on care source now, and it's helped alot with being diagnosed with IC

Thanks for the advice, but I doubt I would qualify for Medicaid since I am married and we both work. My insurance starts off paying well, but in no time I fall into the "gap" and then I have to pay 75% while they only pay 25%. That means for a one month supply of Elmiron it cost me $276 and this is at the cheapest pharmacy I could find.

[joannharllee]

Re: "IC Friendly" Health Insurance?

Agape, are you over 65 and on Medicare? Is BCBS your Medicare Supplement? Do you have separate coverage for drugs? Right now is the time you can change Medicare insurers, so you may want to go to an insurance agent to see if you can change to a better policy. You can no longer be denied due to preexisting condition.

The "donut gap" you go into after a certain point does not last for ever. If you are able to get through the donut hole, then the coverage starts again. Get a good medicare insurance agent to help you figure all this out.

Jo Ann