insurance blues

I M WAITING FOR AN ANSWER FROM BCBS FOR ONE WEEK NOW. THEY NEEDED ADDITIONAL INFO FROM ONE OF MY DOCTORS. iM GETTING SCARED BECAUSE USUALLY IT TAKES SEVENTY TWO HOURS FOR AN ANSWER AFTER THEY HAVE ALL OF YOU INFO. SEEMS TO ME , THE LONGER IT TAKES, THE MORE LIKELY IT WILL BE DENIED. I JUST GOT FIRED, WILL HAVE TO PICK UP COBRA SO NEEDLESS TO SAY, IM MAJOR STRESSED OUT.

i have bc/bs of alabama, my paperwork was received on 7/7/05. it took one week to get into there systems. when i call to check to see have they received my info which they did i was told it will take at least 60 to 90 days for a decision. because so many cases was submitted in june and the first of july. i just want to say i pray you are approved.

Gloria, I am so sorry to hear that you got fired. COBRA is usually very expensive. So far with my experience with BCBS, they have been very difficult to work with. I would suggest you find another job that offers a different insurance company. Besides BCBS being major jerks, COBRA is very expensive. Good luck with whatever decision you make. Tammy

Beware of COBRA. I am in a similiar situation. I was covered under my employer's insurance plan...UHC. Due to relocation, I had to convert to COBRA coverage. I began my testing/screening procedures under my employer's plan but once I switched to COBRA I was told that there was an exclusion and they refused to pay for anything relating to WLS. I am now in desperate search for a new job - so good luck to you.

When I had COBRA coverage I had someone at the Illinois Insurance Commission tell me that my insurance company knew they would be able to get rid of me when the coverage expired so they'd just run the clock out on me. Sure enough, they did. It worked out OK because the expiration of my COBRA coverage qualified me for a special insurance plan administered by the state of Illinois which paid for my surgery. My weight allowed insurance companies to decline me for individual coverage. Call the insurance commission in your state and ask if they offer anything for people who can't get coverage any other way. You may be required to pay through the full COBRA period until it expires.