Seeking health insurance advice!

[LiberalEsto]

My daughter turns 26 next month so she will no longer be eligible for coverage under my husband's health insurance policy. She's been unemployed for a couple of years, never finished college, has a suspended driving license, and is being treated for depression and anxiety/panic disorder.

I don't know where or how to start looking for health coverage for her. Our finances are somewhat limited, because I've been out of work for almost 4 years.

Do any of you know of good resources for advice on how to pick a decent health insurance plan? (or recommendations about a plan?) When I look at the Blue Cross web site with its huge deductibles and monthly payment amounts and out-of-pocket costs, it all makes my head spin.

Thank you

[Corgigal]

1. Not sure you can find one

I pay out of pocket for my son's insurance. He's in college and I have an Aetna plan with 6 office visits, dental and prescription plan. He has a 5,000 deductible, but for the most part he can be treated anywhere. It cost me 141.00 a month. I just tried to switch his plan to Humana but they want all this blood work and its stupid because he is out of state for college without a car. So we won't switch. He has only used his plan once this year to get a cavity filled.

I'm sorry to tell you this but if you have ANY medical condition and have actually used your insurance the likely hood of you get insurance for your daughter at my sons rate is zero. I'm not sure you'll find one at all. Once you tell them shes been treated for depression and anxiety your quote that you originally agreed to will double.

[cbayer]

2. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I would suggest she be given this as

a project

There are a lot of sites on the web with guidance and advice about shopping for insurance. There are also *brokers* that allow you to compare policies by price, limitations and coverage (including psychiatric coverage, which she will want to make sure she has).

Could she not do the research and then sit down with you to discuss the options?

[LiberalEsto]

4. You raise a good point

I did ask her, but she isn't doing it.
It's almost impossible to even get her to make phone calls.
However, I'll try again.

[cbayer]

6. She may be medicaid eligible. Have you looked into that?

Has she applied for SSI?

[LiberalEsto]

7. SSI never occurred to us

but I'm not sure she qualified for disability. I'll ask her to ask her therapist

[truedelphi]

9. SSI would be very good. And even if she

Is living with you, she may qualify for food stamps. I think if she has no income, and since the government considers 26 as being the age that adulthood has been achieved, she may qualify for County Medical. Under Obama every county in the USA (I believe) has been put into emergency status re: food stamps, so I don't think the government eve demands you look for work.)

You may end up having to help her pay her medications and doctor visits until some detrrmined amount is reached. I just helped a friend apply for food stamps and County medical, and after she spends $ 800 in a single month the county medical program steps in.

Although this is not ideal, it does mean that if she faces a calamity, like breaking an ankle ($ 13,000 right there sometimes!) she won't have to pay out of pocket reimbursements monies each month FOREVER

[cbayer]

10. It's hard to get, particularly for psychiatric disorders, but worth a try

if she can't work due to disability.

You may need an attorney, who will generally take part of the retroactive payments.

Unfortunately, people on SSI have to wait to become Medicare eligible. I can't remember the exact time, but I think it's either 1 1/2 or 2 years, so that's not going to help.

Does your community have a mental health center? Many do and operate on a sliding scale. They are often also very good at navigating the Medicaid system or other resources which may be available.

One other thing that I don't know the answer to. Does the ACA provide for continuing coverage for children who are disable even once they reach the age limit?

You are in a tough spot. The last thing I would recommend is NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally Ill) or a local chapter. They are generally experts on what resources are available in the public and private sector.

[HopeHoops]

3. Full coverage is the best way to go. At least for now, term coverage is dangerous.

Until the "no pre-existing conditions" clause kicks in (2014 I think) you can be denied coverage if you don't keep continual full coverage. Term coverage (also called "catastrophic&quot doesn't qualify. If the GOP has their way, you can't be sure the pre-existing conditions thing will survive. Depression counts as a pre-existing condition. Get one with a high deductible and a low premium. The prescription coverage won't vary by much (if anything).

[sadbear]

5. Would she be eligible for Medicaid?

[LiberalEsto]

8. I don't know

I kinda doubt it.

[hedgehog]

12. i'd check into it - you may be pleasantly surprised. I have one adult kid who

works for non-profits who is on Medicaid - but of course that's here in New York State!

[mrmpa]

11. Can you or she take the steps..........

to get her into the medicaid system in your state. I would start with getting her a case worker through a non-profit in your area. The agency should be able to help her with navigating the system.

[Marcia Brady]

13. Try your insurance agent

Our agent found a BC/BS policy for our son that is specifically designed for young adults. High deductible, but, really, all you want for someone that age is the kind of coverage that will keep them from dealing with the major bills that can accumulate from an emergency hospitalization, or something like that.