My wife is pregnant!!!!

[Tuanv 2]

Hi guys,

I am so happy, excited, and...nervous at the same time that my wife is pregnant. I am going to be a father at 25! But the thing that concern me is that her health insurance is going to be cut off because I am going to quit my job tomorrow. I am going to start a new job in 2-3 weeks but am not sure what to do get her cover for 3 months until I am eligible to buy health insurance at my new job. I can buy health insurance myself for 3 months then cancel it, right? It is even necessary to buy health insurance for the next three months? She is one month pregnant, so she is not going to need a lot medical attention, right?

[Anh map 2,098]

Hi guys,

I am so happy, excited, and...nervous at the same time that my wife is pregnant. I am going to be a father at 25! But the thing that concern me is that her health insurance is going to be cut off because I am going to quit my job tomorrow. I am going to start a new job in 2-3 weeks but am not sure what to do get her cover for 3 months until I am eligible to buy health insurance at my new job. I can buy health insurance myself for 3 months then cancel it, right? It is even necessary to buy health insurance for the next three months? She is one month pregnant, so she is not going to need a lot medical attention, right?

Congrats.

You need to make sure you can have her covered and she will not be denied coverage with your new policy due to the pregnancy being pre-existing. Get good answers BEFORE you lose your current policy. (Might mean delaying your resignation. You were planning some fun down time, but life just changed big time. Good change, but BIG change.)

Perhaps you can do COBRA on the existing policy. It may not be cheap, but if you don't want to be liable for all the costs it would be the prudent move. And you sure don't want to have some unforeseen occurrence in the next few months cause undue stress and strain for the both of you.

End of parental sounding lecture.

[Enigma11561 336]

Ah Map is spot on. NEVER let your coverage lapse.My understanding is that as long as you have continuous coverage there are no pre-existing conditions moving from one policy to another. And from another Dad, you can never tell what will pop up during a pregnancy. Those bills can be very expenses, plus she will need monthly check ups.

[Tuanv 2]

Thank guys! What does a Cobra on an existing policy means?

[Tuanv 2]

I actually did a quick search and found what it means. WOW, if i decided to do Cobra, I would have to pay $650 a month on health insurance! I will talk to the HR department at my new job tomorrow to discuss my options.

[Anh map 2,098]

Thank guys! What does a Cobra on an existing policy means?

You are allowed to pay the premium on your existing policy for several months to keep coverage in place. That would allow you to have no lapse in coverage. The HR person at your current job should be able to give you the information. Or you could contact the insurance carrier directly.

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

[luckytxn 2,264]

Thank guys! What does a Cobra on an existing policy means?

As soon as you leave the company you are with and the insurance you should get within a couple of weeks a packet from the insurance company where you can keep paying (At a big mark up) and receiving insurance. This is Cobra.

Not sure what state you are in but in Texas by law the new insurance at your new company has to cover her and you and any existing conditions if you have not let the former insurance lapse by either 6 or 12 months. I am sure other states has this but need to check into that for your state.

Many congrats to you both. My wife wants a little girl and I want a boy if I somehow knock her up.

[Anh map 2,098]

I actually did a quick search and found what it means. WOW, if i decided to do Cobra, I would have to pay $650 a month on health insurance! I will talk to the HR department at my new job tomorrow to discuss my options.

Years ago I decided to go without insurance between jobs.

Then I blew out my knee.

Paid for it all myself

Won't take that gamble again.

[Tuanv 2]

As soon as you leave the company you are with and the insurance you should get within a couple of weeks a packet from the insurance company where you can keep paying (At a big mark up) and receiving insurance. This is Cobra.

Not sure what state you are in but in Texas by law the new insurance at your new company has to cover her and you and any existing conditions if you have not let the former insurance lapse by either 6 or 12 months. I am sure other states has this but need to check into that for your state.

Many congrats to you both. My wife wants a little girl and I want a boy if I somehow knock her up.

Same here, my wife wants a little girl but I would love a boy.

Years ago I decided to go without insurance between jobs.

Then I blew out my knee.

Paid for it all myself

Won't take that gamble again.

Yeah, I would not want to take such a huge gamble.

[Dan_P 5]

When I left my old company, they said they covered until the end of the month, new company started the following month. You would need to check with both companies to see if this is the case for you, but if it is, it could work out if you start the new company before the end of the month, but dont quit the old company until the beginnig of the following month.

[VinceN 25]

Years ago I decided to go without insurance between jobs.

Then I blew out my knee.

Paid for it all myself

Won't take that gamble again.

Amen to that, though fortunately enough I never had to experience anything as such. I personally have a few friends who do not have any insurance of any sort (health or dental), I have no idea how they do it but I can't imagine what kinda financial b.s they will have to go through should something bad happen.

[Mozzer1972 7]

Congrats!!! You should check in to going on COBRA to cover the time between the old and the new job.

Best of luck to you both.

[Tuanv 2]

When I left my old company, they said they covered until the end of the month, new company started the following month. You would need to check with both companies to see if this is the case for you, but if it is, it could work out if you start the new company before the end of the month, but dont quit the old company until the beginnig of the following month.

I don't think this will work for my case bc my new company's health insurance won't until three months later.

Congrats!!! You should check in to going on COBRA to cover the time between the old and the new job.

Best of luck to you both.

It is going to be expensive but this is the best option for now.

My wife cannot apply for state's health insurance, right?

[Inky 1,110]

She is one month pregnant, so she is not going to need a lot medical attention, right?

Thats what my friend thought until she had a very very bad miscarriage and lost the baby and almost died. She was rushed to emergency and everything. Never assume you will be fine. Payed out over 30grand in bills for emergency and such. By herself no insurance.

[BinhJerome 14]

First off congrats!!! Second off, when I was managing a company in the US a few years back insurance companies would NOT cover a woman if she was pregnant, and most companies would not cover any birthing expenses if the woman became pregnant within one year of obtaining insurance. I would look into doing as Anh Map suggested and trying to pay for the insurance out of pocket until after the baby is born, or until another insurance company would cover any costs. Good luck and congrats once more! Jerome and Binh