BFiggy

I just receive the news that my insurance company has approved my GB surgery. At the same time I received notice that my wife has been laid off from her job of 8 years. I am covered under her insurance. We will be covered until the end of April and then the company will pay for one month of COBRA for her. My surgery is scheduled for June 1. I have two questions:

1: If I pay for COBRA for June will the insurance still pay?

2: How much after care am I looking at after the surgery? Will I need to pay for 2 or 3 more months of COBRA?

H20Ski Kelly

I'm not sure about the answers to your questions but, the good news about COBRA elect right now is that with the new stimulas plans in effect, you will only have to pay 35% of your COBRA premium for like the first 8 months or something like that. That's a good deal for insurance anywhere. I would jump on that and hopefully you'll find something to keep you covered before that 8 months is up. Good luck!

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Kelly


Surgery Date: 4/23/2009*
*All Other Information to be Added Soon

Jeanie

Yep with this bill passed people that are laid off will prob pay less then what they did when they are working. I think it's a great thing because no one should have to worry about getting sick or hurt.
You will have the same insurance so as long as you guys continue to pay for Cobra there should be no problems with still having your surgery. On another note if you guys can afford you should keep the Cobra until you have other insurance because if you let it lasp and if anything does happen related to GBS your new insurance wont have to cover it because it's called pre-existing and you didn't have continual insurance. They can make you wait up to 6 months with the new insurance before they will pay for anything related to your issues. I hope everything goes great with your GBS, and that your wife finds a job really soon.

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Lap Dr. Callery
July 7, 2004
Savanna Annmarie was born on 10/14/2008

Sherry_Lynn

Yes, it will most definetly cover. Please, if yiu can, keep the Cobra.......you don't want any lapse in insurance due to pre-existing conditions, can be financially devastating to find out something isn't covered for up to a year, if ever. Good Luck!

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Sherry Lynn

Proud Mom of two Saint Bernard Puppies, George & Gracie

Lap RNY





Highest/Day of Surgery/Current/Goal
336/303/229/180

mburgs

It's probably best to keep th COBRA since you're so close to your surgery. It can be expensive, it's whatever your wife's premium has been + whatever her company was paying + a service fee (3% I believe).

You actually have quite a bit of time to formally elect COBRA once you lose coverage, but best to play it safe considering what is at stake. COBRA is a continuation of your current coverage without lapses. Your surgery should be well documented with your carrier, but you can also give them a call for peace of mind. I'd make sure to have calls documented to both the carrier and to inform your wife's HR office so they can potentially help if you have problems in the future.

Not having a lapse in insurance is critical so if you do go to different insurance make sure you pay COBRA for the month prior to you gaining coverage and that the new insurance starts exactly where the COBRA ends. Once you leave your insurance carrier the next will want the letter of credible coverage which is from the previous carrier and can be key with pre-existing conditions down the road.

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poet_kelly

You will need follow up care for some time after your surgery. I saw my surgeon one week later, three weeks after that, once a month for a couple of months. Then I got an appointment for three months later. I also had to get a lot of blood tests done. I was having a lot of trouble with nausea and vomiting, so I also had to get a special x-ray with barium done. It's very important to get follow up medical care. You'll need to meet with a dietician post-op, as well.

Kelly