I actually have a health insurance question for you guys. My friend's mom is in NY state. She is battling cancer, which has spread throughout her body. She has finally realized that she can't go back to teaching college this fall, but her health insurance will end either 30 or 60 days after she resigns. I've heard y'all talk about COBRA insurance after losing a job. Won't she qualify for COBRA? And can they disqualify her from COBRA because she is so sick? Considering how sick she is (cancer in her brain, lungs, skin, and arms), does it cost more? She is very sick, but nobody's really sure how much time she has left. My friend's wife is due to give birth in about 3 weeks and they think she is holding on until the baby comes.

OMG y'all. I left at 5:00 on the dot AND JUST GOT HOME!!! Sure I had an errand to run that took me 20 min out of my normal way, but every single train was running late and then we had a delay because of an "incident" being "investigated". Had to leave the train at one point to call and get someone else to get mac. Thank dog those people fed him. Now I need to eat, but I am sweaty and tired and nothing sounds good if I have to fix it for myself.

Holy crap msbelle, that is an epic fail of a commute.

true fact.

oh I need to email you. incoming shortly.

Sue, I believe she'd be able to have COBRA for up to 12 or 18 months, but it's extremely expensive (though Obama's administration has discounted the cost). But it's pretty much the only way to continue coverage with a pre-existing condition right now (short of her getting a new job).

Sue, the only people not eligible for COBRA are those who are fired with just cause. It's considered continuation of coverage, so pre-existing conditions do not apply. And it will cost her exactly 102% of the cost of the coverage, regardless of her illness (although I don't know how much the new discount will affect that). However, I think any deductibles or out of pocket limits she's already reached this year will not carry over, she'll have to pay those again.

Oh, that sucks, msbelle.

I've heard y'all talk about COBRA insurance after losing a job. Won't she qualify for COBRA? And can they disqualify her from COBRA because she is so sick? Considering how sick she is (cancer in her brain, lungs, skin, and arms), does it cost more?

But that situation really sucks. I'm pretty sure the deal with COBRA is that because it's keeping your current insurance, there aren't the disqualification issues with changing insurance. Also what javachik said.

Sue, I believe she'd be able to have COBRA for up to 12 or 18 months, but it's extremely expensive (though Obama's administration has discounted the cost). But it's pretty much the only way to continue coverage with a pre-existing condition right now (short of her getting a new job).

Thanks. I have found an FAQ about COBRA in NY that I sent to my friend and explained what little I knew of it. I'm sure extremely expensive COBRA payments are cheaper than whatever her chemo is costing.

Is that one of the things mandated by California?

Not that I know of, but I'm not positive...

I'm sure extremely expensive COBRA payments are cheaper than whatever her chemo is costing.

Absolutely. Deb G was on it and it was scary expensive but covered her Avonex (super expensive shot for MS-related ills) iirc.