l have a feeling I am out of luck, but here goes: My employer is in one state. I am in a different state. Our insurance company (we have a PPO) has decided it does not wanna cover out-of-state employees anymore. The company is very small (less than 20 people). It has promised it wo not let any of our coverage lapse, but l am not optimistic, since the controller asked me if it would be possible for me to get private insurance and be reimbursed for it.

Since l have severe respiratory disease and hypertension, the answer to that would ordinarily be no. With this and my previous job, I've had continuous insurance coverage for nearly 10 years. Would that ''creditable coverage'' be any use to me in getting decent private coverage that would cover my pre-existing conditions?

If l quit (I am thinking about it...) COBRA would not seem to apply because the company is dropping the insurance. And, of course, if l end up uninsured for more than 62 days between jobs, l lose all my creditable coverage and am back at zero.

Is private insurance a realistic possibility, or am l in fantasyland here? Thanks!

Yes, u can & do have the right to as long as u have had creditable coverage of at least 18 months. You coverage cannot have a break of more than 63 days. (Make sure u have ur company is Controller get ur Certificate of Creditable Coverage from ur current insurer)

Below is the Hipaa Stipulation:

HIPAA eligibility in the individual market (either in the commercial market, the state high risk pool, or other means the state may choose) gives an individual access to health coverage on a guaranteed issue basis, without the imposition of a preexisting condition exclusion.
HIPAA does not regulate premiums. The states do, if they have rating authority.
The Federal standards for HIPAA eligibility for portability to individual
coverage are:

• the individual must have a total of 18 months of creditable coverage;

• the individual must avoid a significant break in health coverage of 63 or more full days in a row (unless ur state is more generous). A significant break in coverage results in the individual losing credit for the coverage before the break;

• the individual may not have any medical coverage, other than that which will soon be exhausted;

• if COBRA, state continuation coverage, or Federal Temporary Continuation Coverage has been offered, a person must accept & exhaust it. Although an individual may apply for HIPAA coverage before the termination of COBRA, COBRA must be exhausted & then the new coverage will start;

• the individual may not be eligible for any other employment related group health coverage, Medicare or Medicaid;

• the individual must have the last coverage through an employer or union plan (COBRA, State & Federal continuation coverage meet this requirement);

• the individual must not have lost their last coverage through fraud or non-payment of premiums;

• generally, the individual must not accept, after losing group coverage, a conversion policy (although a few states use this as part of their mechanism) or policy of limited duration because they r both forms of individual coverage & end the individual is HIPAA portability rights.

You'd be HIPAA eligible to get a plan, but you may not want to pay for that plan. l had a client in FL apply and get turned down for the $250/month plan. But, since she was HIPAA eligible she qualified for the HIPAA plan at $1000/month.

It depends on what state you live in as to what your options are. In my state the HIPAA plans are only about 50% more than other plans.

http://InsurancePickle.com

It is possible, but not likey.

Some states have ''guaranteed issue'' policies, where they HAVE to take you, even if you're ill. There is no guarantee on the PRICE, though, so that can end up costing thousands a month.

Most have a ''high risk'' health fund, for people uninsurable elsewhere. Many times there is a long wait to get on the high risk fund, & u have to have certain conditions, to qualify - which vary by state. Again, it can cost up to 5X what standard health insurance costs.

Credible coverage is not an issue, when going from a group policy to an individual policy. For individual policies, companies r allowed to flat out decline to take you, or take u but exclude all coverage for preexisting conditions. AND charge u an arm & a leg.

Private insurance is NOT going to be cheap, if u can get it. But go talk to a LOCAL independent agent who does health insurance in ur area, & see what they can do for you.

Seriously, if this is what is happening, you're going to most likely have to look for another job. No need to quit this one, though, until u have a new one.