Cobra is terribly expensive, (about triple what you pay now) and once you get a diagnosis it will be expensive to get coverage. I was quoted 750.00 per month, but purchased my own policy for 159.00 through BCBS. Same deducibles and coverage.

Purchase a new policy quickly and get the best policy you can. Otherwise, they will refuse to cover you under "pre-existing condition."

I tried to purchase a policy through Cobra once, and it was triple my prior rate. I purchased a new policy for a fraction of the price. But, if you get a diagnosis code about cancer in your record, no one will insure you or they will also charge you very high rates.

Purchase Cancer Insurance, as well.

Try UP’s advice first though better safe than sorry .

Take good care of yourself and know we all wish you the best in our own ways and according to our own belief systems .

Tall green and scaly also says hi and hopes you get a good diagnosis

If you can get the insurance before you get diagnosed with a particular condition, it might help. However, from my knowledge of insurance companies, they are likely to not want to pay up if they get wind its a "pre-existent" condition. They will try any loop hole they can to get out of covering you.

I know that when my mom had cancer and a blood disorder, it did bankrupt my family. They denied her medicine and certain treatments because they claimed it was the result of "pre-existening condition".

My advice would be, if you can get a back-up policy.

(((((((Laptop)))))))

It is imperative that you continue with your present health insurance carrier because you now have a "pre-existing condition" regardless of whether it is diagnosed today or a month from now. If you are on a COBRA plan that is expiring in March, then you must continue insurance with the same company beginning in April. Talk to the insurance company and find out how to do this.

Purchasing a new health insurance policy will NOT cover your pre-existing condition. Furthermore, most policies exclude payments for major illness during the first 12 to 24 months of coverage.

I do not know what you mean by a "back-up policy". As I stated, a new policy with a new insurance company will NOT cover your pre-existing condition or any serious illness for at least 12 months.

I do not wish to scare you, but there is more that you need to know. If your insurance coverage lapses, then you may not be able to obtain timely medical treatment. Doctors and hospitals generally require that payment plans be in place before treatment begins.

Many American assume that patients will receive timely treatment even if they can’t pay, but that is not true. Hospitals are only required to provide emergency life saving treatment (like stopping the bleeding from a gunshot wound) to non-paying patients, but not ongoing treatment for illness like cancer. The hospital will require that you be approved for Medicaid or some other funding source before initiating expensive surgery, chemo, radiation, etc.

Here are a few suggestions, but you need to do further research on your own to see what best applies to your situation:

* Contact your current health insurance company and obtained detailed instructions on how to continue your coverage after March.

* If you are diagnosed with a serious illness, then discuss your insurance situation immediately with the hospital’s Billing Department.

* If you are diagnosed with a serious illness, then contact your state’s Department of Health to learn about resources available to you. Also contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 to ask about resources.

Hopefully this turns out to be a medical false alarm for you. Best wishes that your doctor finds nothing seriously wrong.

But make darn sure they get it right. My sister’s in the middle of a thing where one doctor’s trying to say she’s got MS, and the other says no, it cold be something very different. Obviously, they get treated very freakin’ differently. And you probably know this, but don’t be afraid to get a 2nd opinion. That’s where my sister got the reassuring news that it might not be MS.

(((LJ))) Take care of yourself . . .

I have great hope that it is NOT cancer, and probably something simpler than this. I’m sorry I can’t help much, due to my limited knowledge when it comes to insurance, but I was linked to your question by a great friend and thought I should at least say something.

I love you, and please whatever this is, fight it. We all know you can win

http://www.HealthInsuranceIdeas.info

is the resource i recommend.

godless hugs =)

(((((((LJ))))))

Hopefully, things will not be as bad as they sound right now. The looming threat of cancer can strike as hard as cancer itself. When I was diagnosed, I got the impression that I had about 18 months left. That was 19 months ago, and I’m in better shape than I was then thanks to drug therapy. Of course, every cancer is different.

I’m sorry I have no advice about COBRA except that it has always scared me. Costs are highest when you can least afford them. I don’t know how some people manage it. I am fortunate to have both my company’s insurance and my wife’s, but I’m not sure what will happen when I can’t work any more. Disability and Medicare, I suppose, but I know little about either. (I feel like ranting about the clowns in Congress right now but I won’t.)

I can only send positive thoughts your way, hope that you will get some good news for a change, and a promise that I’ll pass on any helpful ideas I come across.