health insurance question

arewecrazy · 07-19-2006, 12:46 PM

i was googling this and finding nothing and it just dawned on me taht you all would probably know.

my dh owns his company and works for himself.
i teach and carry dh and dd on insurane. it's 650 a month for them.

on someone's recommendation i checked out an insurance company and found out that i could save FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH by switching to them (it's a high deductible but it makes PERFECT sense for us).

this is the question - how can i drop them from my policy before open enrollment? that's in october with an effective date of jan 1st i think. i was thinking since one of the qualifying events is getting a new job, that DH could put himself in a new position (it is his company after all, but no one needs to know that) and that would qualify.
or he could write it up so that his company is now offering health benefits to employees (he's the only employee so that should work) and i would think that would be a qualifying event, but i can't find anything that talks about this.

any information ladies?

thanks for your help.

guineapig · 07-19-2006, 06:28 PM

I'm not sure, but I wanted to say be sure you're all approved by the new company before dropping the old one; I take it the new one's private insurance as opposed to your teaching group health insurance. Sounds like it for $100-something a month. Sometimes (alot of times) private companies are picky about PCOSers and don't have to insure you at all, no matter how much you pay or what is excluded.

Just be careful...I got laid off 4 years ago & thought'd be no big deal to get insurance somewhere cheap. I got denied by every private company in 3 states and ended up paying COBRA b/c of PCOS--not even overweight or on meds! I didn't even care about coverage for PCOS--just wanted "flu" and "car crash" insurance. Nope, too bad for me. Plus, if you lie on the app and they find out, they can cancel you also.

Lynnz · 07-19-2006, 06:49 PM

Are you just dropping them from your insurance or all 3 of you? I don't believe you have to have a reason for dropping...you can just tell them you want to drop and then waive a form. Open enrollment is more for adding or changing without a reason. At least at my last job that's how it worked.

I see you are pg - be very careful if you are changing insurance. We went through this last year when I was pg. DH changed jobs so we went off his insurance, onto mine, then mine changed companies and after we had DD, we went back to DH's insurance. Our insurance bills have been completely messed up and we have had to pay for stuff that should have been covered but wasn't because of all our switching around and delays in billing.

Good luck.

Emma&Grace · 07-19-2006, 07:24 PM

Also, pregnancy can be considered a "pre-existing" condition when you are on private insurance. If you are on group insurance (through work) pregnancy is not "pre-existing" but it can be for private insurance.

Something to think about,
Trish

MountainMama73 · 07-19-2006, 08:56 PM

I would also urge some caution on dropping them. That rate could be a come-on thing, with rates rising rapidly once you've got the insurance. The insurance you're getting through your job may be expensive, but at least you know you're somewhat immune from wild fluxuations in coverage and rates because it's group insurance. We have a high-deductible HSA account through DH's work, and let me tell you, I wish every day we could have traditional insurance. We're paying out premiums AND we never see a dime of coverage. It's great insurance for healthy, single adults with no children. It sucks for people with any kind of chronic condition and parents, since doctor's visits are inevitable for kids.

arewecrazy · 07-19-2006, 09:25 PM

no not me. i'm staying on the insurance since school board pays for it. dh and dd are healthy as horses. and the recommendation came from someone who's had them for a while. actually, everyone at work is trying to get rid of the insurance cause for such a large organization (the county school system with all its thousands of teachers) we get crap rates. we have seen smaller groups with better rates. there's also a rumour out that the only major account that our current insurer has is our county. i know the company, i was with them several jobs back for years and i personally love them - i got infertility treatment with them.

anyhew thanks for the advice and caveats, but i think this is a legitamately good deal. yes a high deductible (which we don't have a problem with) but well baby and routine office visits are covered, etc.