Question:
What should I do?

My husband is going to change jobs. He wants me to wait until he starts his new job before getting the surgery because he is concerned that the cost of insurance will be higher after a major surgery like this. But he is getting a job where my father works and he has told him that he will pay the same no matter what. But here's the twist, I have already sent my paperwork into bcbs of MI and am waiting for their approval/denial. I told my husband to get the COBRA offered not only for this but for our 16 month old son. And here's my biggest question if bcbs does approve will COBRA cover it? I'm so confused and so upset I don't know what to do. I feel like my head is spinning and I'm so lost. One good thing about waiting is that my new ins. will be bcbs of IN and if the rumors of IN ins. having to cover WLS is true that is a major plus. But major con is that starting the second week of Nov. I will begin my second job so I was hoping to be healed by then because I'll be working 15-17 hour days until after Christmas and both jobs will be pretty physical, lifting, ect.. I just need to know what would you do? Any and all help will be appreciated. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!    — Niki G. (posted on June 25, 2000)

June 25, 2000
Nicole, I don't know very much about your situation, except I would definitely advise that if your husband will be without insurance for any period of time AT ALL, that you DO get Cobra coverage during that period, almost at whatever the cost. I know that sometimes whether or not you've had continuous insurance coverage can really be a significant factor. I think having a lapse in coverage can be used in some cases to deny claims due to pre-existing illnesses. Hopefully, someone with more knowledge will be able to give you more details. I just know I have a family member in the insurance business who was unemployed for a while & she felt she had to pay Cobra, no matter what the cost, because it was so important to not EVER have a lapse in insurance. good luck!
   — Kathy W.

June 26, 2000
Nicole, I can sympathize with your situation because I have WAY too much experience with COBRA and changing insurance companies. My husband is on his ninth job in seven years. Two of his job changes happened during my two pregnancies. When I started trying to get WLS, he was with one insurance policy that had an exclusion, and several months later he got a new job with a different insurance, and I started the approval process all over again. I did get my surgery, but it took a while. My advice would be to go with COBRA until your husband's new insurance starts. If BCBS of MI approves you while you are on COBRA, they will pay exactly the same as if you had the regular insurance coverage. Don't worry about paying more for the next insurance. Your husband's employer will charge the same no matter what, and as long as you have continuous coverage from one policy to the next, there will be no pre-existing condition trouble. I live in Indiana, and it is true there is a new law taking effect in July which will require insurance companies to cover WLS. It remains to be seen whether the insurance companies will find some way around this law, but it should help. If you need any more details about the COBRA law or other insurance stuff, feel free to send me an e-mail.
   — Lynn K.

June 26, 2000
don't worry. i had open rny on 04/25 and had only been on aetna (cobra) 2 months when they approved me. i was so stressed about it for nothing! just relax, everything will work out.
   — [Anonymous]