Talk Cancer » Leukemia » Stem Cell Transplant: Difficult Question….
Stem Cell Transplant: Difficult Question….
Question:
My wife and I are currently under an HMO plan with a local Washington State insurance company. She will be undergoing a stem cell transplant soon. Due to complicated reasons, I am considering changing jobs. If I do this however, she will need to wait another year to be considered for the transplant. Is it possible to utilize COBRA to continue with her care and therefore enable her to have the transplant? My insurance company said that I am required to take the new insurance that is offered at a new company. Is there anyway that I can work this out?? Sincerely, Tim
My wife is soon to undergo the same process if all goes well. We are covered through Group Health. I can’t help you with your coverage question, but would like to wish you well and if you would like to keep in touch and compare notes on the experience or care to talk, please let us know. Our best wishes, Rick Sinclair
Response:
My wife and I are currently under an HMO plan with a local Washington State insurance company. She will be undergoing a stem cell transplant soon. Due to complicated reasons, I am considering changing jobs. If I do this however, she will need to wait another year to be considered for the transplant. Is it possible to utilize COBRA to continue with her care and therefore enable her to have the transplant? My insurance company said that I am required to take the new insurance that is offered at a new company. Is there anyway that I can work this out?? Sincerely, Tim
Response:
My wife and I are currently under an HMO plan with a local Washington State insurance company. She will be undergoing a stem cell transplant soon. Due to complicated reasons, I am considering changing jobs. If I do this however, she will need to wait another year to be considered for the transplant. Is it possible to utilize COBRA to continue with her care and therefore enable her to have the transplant? My insurance company said that I am required to take the new insurance that is offered at a new company. Is there anyway that I can work this out??
I am not an insurance professional, but this is my understanding of the situation after losing my job about 1.5 years ago and being on COBRA for a while. It is true that COBRA coverage will cease after you are insured at your new employer EXCEPT if your new employer’s insurance limits coverage for pre-existing conditions (that are possibly other reasons that COBRA can be continued when you have new insurance, but I don’t know about them). You probably are required to take the new insurance, in order to satisfy the pre-existing condition clause. It may be worse if you don’t sign up when you (and your wife) are initially eligible. For a while you will have to be double insured (an oxymoron, you will actually be only singly insured, you will just have the privilege of paying two insurance companies, still it beats the alternative). Art — Austin, Texas