I just knew there would be some snag that would make this surgery more complicated than it needed to be. I also figured it would be wound up in insurance too. I called Monday to double check on the COBRA Stimulus Plan since I was told that it would go into effect on April 17th, Friday.
Stupid me thought things would just happen. Of course things aren't that simple. Why would they be. No, On the 17th they sent paperwork instead. Paperwork which I have not received yet but expect to by Tuesday (crossing fingers). We have to fill out this paperwork stating that no one else really wants to be insured too (Um yeah it's my husband and 7 kids. We can't afford that if we wanted to!!) and they have to sign it too. Then I can not be on medicare which apparently I am according to the hospital, for some reason, so we have to make sure I am removed from that, and then they check to see if I QUALIFY for the COBRA stimulus plan! WTF??!!!
I don't get why I would need to "qualify"! We have no job, we paid nearly $600 with the understanding that on April 17th it would retro-actively cover me until July 4th, and now I have to go through paperwork and HOPE to QUALIFY?!?!
The coverage was going to cover my post-op care, I can not deal with more over-lapping of insurance and confusion and stress on whether or not I will be covered after my surgery! Thankfully I KNOW I will be covered for the surgery, insurance already told me that if I go in on the 24th I will be covered for everything until I am released, which is good to know, but I was threatened with cancellation if I did not have coverage for post-op care, so I have 3 days to stress and make tons of calls to make sure this all goes through.
I asked what I needed to "qualify" and the lady just basically told me to "fill the paperwork out and return it". That fucking does NOT help me! I need to know NOW not tomorrow! As it was it took 4 hours just to get through to a live person. Everytime I called before that I got a message saying their "lines were busy and to try again later." To me that is NOT a good sign. :(
I am extremely worried I won't be covered post-operatively now. We can not afford the $108 a WEEK to cover me, especially when unemployment is only giving us $1400 a month and rent is $930 and we have 7 kids to take care of then there is utilities and basic essentials.
Needless to say my excitement bubble has burst and I am again fretting over insurance. I have NO idea what to do or where to go from here. I suppose that if I am covered by medicare then maybe they'll pay for the follow-up care. Right now though, I just don't know. ((sigh))
So, what's happening?
6 years ago
You can always fight for the coverage after the fact, especially in this situation. As for the post surgical care: you won't be in the hospital that long... a day or two at most. Try to relax and remember that this is worth it, and no matter what you go through with these insurance companies after the fact, you'll have had your surgery AND something will workout.
ReplyDeleteIf you are in fact covered by medicare, they will cover a great deal of the cost. I had to pay $550 out of pocket for the surgery because of the medicare HMO I'm on, and the hospital is letting me do a payment plan.
Believe me, it's worth it to go ahead and sort it all out later, so long as they will take you.
((hugs))
hope it all goes well.