(*&!(@*&!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so mad!!

deep breathe and put the turkey leg down. look at freelancers.org
they do insurance for freelancers. also does your dad own the business?

No, he doesn't.

I'm going to check out other Minnesota insurance places but I have no hope.

you might need to visit an insurance broker.

Where do I find one?

phone book or google it. you might want to call BC/BS of Arkansas or the main office and talk to someone and mention they have been covering you for XX years and ask why can you not be covered now?

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
225 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601-7680
Phone: 312-297-6000

I'll try that on Monday, thank you.

I've been looking at other MN plans and I can't even apply to several because I've been denied already. This is ridiculous.

if you are still under coverage they can't deny you - you also need to get a term letter from them that states you were covered from XX to XX. You know you could talk to Dave about this since this is his area. He might be able to get you a broker in your area. PM him

I found a guy based in Duluth. I just don't know about those brokers though... Ugh. The whole health insurance thing is just a scam, and I hate that I have to have it.

necessary evil - talk to dave

"necessary evil - talk to dave"

So, is talking to me really a "necessary evil"?
I'm sorry about your troubles. The only advice I will give you at this point is don't go with the first person you talk to. Really shop around, and get lot's of quotes on several different HI packages. There are good policies out there that are very inexpensive, but there are several that look cheap, and are so because they don't cover anything.

no the insurance is............hmmmm maybe dave just maybe

wouldn't a supplemental insurance bridge her gap - a just incase

The company I work for does have a limited benefit medical insurance that would help her out until she gets hired, and gets a "real" job (whatever that is). It's called Colonial Health Advantage, and there are CHA plans available, and also optional levels of catastrophic payouts, from $2,00 up to $20,000. Lvls 5-8 also have a prescription plan. The cost ranges from $100-$400/mo, depending on the options you choose. I can put you in touch with a rep that I know and trust if you would like more information.

I don't know about Minnesota, but if you can get a "continuity of care" document from your current insurer in the state of Washington, other carriers can't deny you a policy. You may want to check into that. Well, Dave probably knows all that stuff, right? Dave, do you know anything about that?

Well, BC/BS sent a brochure for Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association, so that's the next application that's getting sent out.

I'm going with no less than a $3-4,000 deductible. I take 3 prescriptions that I need. I go to the doctor every 3-6 months (depends if I'm feeling 'good') and every time I have to get blood taken which is separated into 6 or 8 different tests which add up to about $200 per test.

So.... I feel better than I did when I posted this blog, but I had to post it. I knew you all would understand, and it kind of sheds light on the situation of a 22 year old who faces these stupid road blocks.

make sure they send certificate/letter of continuance of coverage like Martini said

I will try for that. I still can't believe I was denied..!! They said it would take at least 8 weeks to hear anything, but I got this letter in less than 2!!

bc/bs can be nasty and they HAVE to give you that letter

I think I can be forceful enough to get something out of them. We'll see where it takes me on Monday...and the whole week.

Sorry to hear about your insurance difficulties. I hope you are able to find something.

This is horrible. I had a similar problem after my work-comp injury. Even though my injury was completely covered by work comp insurance for the rest of my life, once I couldn't pay the $984 mo for COBRA for myself (not including my kids) no other insurance company would touch me. It was ridiculous.

I have no health issues aside from that injury and it is already covered for the rest of my life....so in effect...I am an otherwise perfectly normal person, extremely healthy, and couldn't get health coverage.

I went in and had a complete physical with compete blood work-up (paid cash) and then submitted all the results to an insurance provider to show I was not a "bad risk" and they still turned me down. My bloodwork was so excellent that my dr had it repeated. I guess my LDL and HDL is better than most kid's.

The point is---the insurance companies are not logical by any means. Does the fact I was willing to pay cash for coverage change anything? Nope. BUT...once I got a job and benefits I somehow become suddenly "insurable" which does not make sense.

While I think Obama's healthcare bills are not the answer, I know we must find that answer somehow. Tearing down the borders (state borders/limitations) on insurance providers would make the industry more competitive which I think would then drive prices down to a reasonable level for most people.

I don't think we need to tax people and then demand they purchase a package forced upon them if they had an option to shop around. De-regulating and restructuring the insurance industry seems the best way to go. Obama didn't hesitate to restructure the auto and banking industry-- so why is the insurance industry off limits? Perhaps they have deeper pockets...they DO have a monopoly within each state....and we are paying a great price for their arrogance and level of "power" over us.

Why is it so logical to me---and Obama and his minions can't see changing the insurance industry as the answer?

Laura - How did everything turn out? Has there been any resolution?

Ah, Laura, I just read this. I'm so sorry. I hope you did find a resolution.

no worries. Obama will have health care fixed soon.

Yeah, we can start paying for it next year, and get on the plan in four years.

No resolution yet.... I (or my mom) halfway submitted a form for the MN Comprehensive Health Care stuff and the broker keeps calling at the wrong times. I haven't talked to him... I don't know what to say.

I just want him to send me stuff and the enrollment form in the mail and I can take it from there. Hopefully I talk to that guy soon. Time is ticking away.

"I just want him to send me stuff and the enrollment form in the mail and I can take it from there"

Unfortunately, in most states that's not legal. There has to be a "licensed and contracted" agent present to verify that the form is filled out correctly and honestly, to avoid insurance fraud. Call him daily or hourly if you have to, but don't let up on him.

We are thinking of you, Laura. Keep us updated.

Laura, I would check with your state. My dad sells insurance and it was legal to fill out the form yourself in Ohio. (Depending on the type of policy, sometimes it had to be notarized, but it's usually easy to find a notary.)

Also, I'm a little late with this suggestion, but if you continue to have trouble getting in touch with the broker, you can apply on-line for a temporary policy with Assurant Health. That's what I did when I was between jobs for a while. I'm not sure how strict their policies are with regard to your UC, though.

lilkimbo, the online thing won't work for the few places that will actually take me, or, take a look at me. I think Blue Cross Blue Shield has a stupid/strict policy regarding being treatment free/symptom free for five years. A lot of people never get that.

However, Dave, I have read on a few websites that you can apply online but you have to either print it out when you're done and 'hand it in' with the broker or fill it out at their office and turn it in so they can look at it (either way) and file it/hand it in/take care of it from there.

In some states that is legal to do that. I know that at least in WI, (and I think MN as well), the agent or a qualified representative has to be present to answer any questions the applicant has while they are filling out the application, and then has to sign saying the application is filled out honestly, to the best of the agent's knowledge. The agent can lose his job (and renewals) if he fails to do this. It happened to a fellow agent in Appleton.

*Note* He was a bit of an a$$, so it was actually kind of funny to see him get into so much trouble....

So this means I can't go there, look through the application, ask my questions, bring it home to fill out, then bring it back later?