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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Aug 26, 2009 23:35:09 GMT -5
So if your kid doesn't quailfy for SSI/Medicade and you don't have insurance through your job, where do you go to get health insurance? If you pay privatly, is Ds considered a pre~exsisting condition where they deny you coverage? I know I can't get insurance b/c of the cancer I had. Is ASD and PDA considered a pre~exist? What about the Laringotracheamalasia? Crap! I'm totalllly lost here. Brook has always had Medicade. Not anymore. I don't want to waste my time calling around if Ds and the other stuff isn't/wouldn't be covered. What if you changed jobs w/ a company who does offer insurance, do the have to add Brooker b/c she's my kid? So many questions...  Thx again  |
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Post by Monique on Aug 27, 2009 9:40:49 GMT -5
Hi Jennifer, the state i live in provides health insurance just for children only (not the parents) if they are not insured. I looked up for your state and found the following information. Looks like it just happened and will be in affect by Jan 2010 and there is contact information at the end of the article. In answer to your other question, if a company offers health insurance, you only have to add who you want on it. So if you want to exclude your children you can: Submitted by Deborah Mitchell on Aug 6th, 2009 Posted under: Oregon Health Insurance Health insurance for nearly all of Oregon’s children is now a reality, thanks to House Bill 2116 signed into law by Gov. Ted Kulongoskii in Portland. The “Healthy Kids” legislation, along with the governor’s earlier approval of a companion bill, paves the way for providing affordable health insurance for 95 to 98 percent of Oregon’s children within the next two years. The less than 100-percent goal takes into account the reality that some children live with families that move too frequently or that avoid authorities. According to an article appearing in the August 3 issue of The Oregonian, Gov. Kulongoski wants his commitment to provide health insurance to children to rub off on President Obama. “I would tell him, ‘Start with children.’ Make sure every child in this country has access to health care. It is not only a health issue. There is a great equality issue in this.” The new health insurance legislation, which is slated to be phased into place by January 2010, expands state health insurance coverage to 80,000 uninsured children and 35,000 low-income adults. This measure essentially reduces the number of uninsured people in Oregon by one-third, and makes Oregon one of just eleven states committed to extending universal health care to children. To pay for this additional coverage, a 1 percent tax is being added to health insurance premiums, as well as an increase in “provider taxes” on most Oregon hospitals. The new health insurance program originally met some opposition from hospitals because of the proposed tax, although it is expected that the added cost will be completely offset by new federal Medicaid monies for Oregon associated with the increase in state health care spending. Although insurance companies did not support the plan, they agreed not to oppose it. To handle the expected influx of applicants and the expansion of the health insurance program, the state Department of Human Services created the Office of Healthy Kids and has added about 100 new positions. Employees will begin by enrolling thousands of children who qualified for the Oregon Health Plan even before the new law was signed. Those children live in families with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $22,050 for a family of four. In January, the state will begin to subsidize, on a sliding scale, private employer health insurance for children who live in families that earn between 201 and 300 percent of the federal poverty level. Children from families in that income range who do not have employer insurance can buy into the new state-sponsored insurance option, which will also be available to all Oregon children. The plan does not, however, cover children who are illegal immigrants. By offering health insurance to more of Oregon’s children, Gov. Kulongoski and other proponents of the plan hope to see improvements in vaccination rates, early detection of autism, better asthma care, and other benefits. Oregon residents who want to learn more about the new health insurance program or enroll their children can visit www.oregonhealthykids.gov or call 877-314-5678. |
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Post by Monique on Aug 27, 2009 9:45:43 GMT -5
also, if you just google "insurance for children in Oregon" you will find all kinds of information that should be helpful for you. Good luck and try not to stress. There are options out there for you!
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Aug 27, 2009 9:59:41 GMT -5
Thx sooo much Monique. I love ol' Ted. He has done some amazing things for kids sence he's been in office. I'll call and check into it. Thx again {{{{HUGS}}}}
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Aug 28, 2009 9:51:28 GMT -5
Well, this is the verdict. In Oregon a family of three can't make over $485.00 a MONTH to qualify for MMA In Oregon a family of three can't make over $1500.00 a month for OHP. My only option they said is to hurry and get Brook to the foot doctor and heart doctor. Here in Jan 2010, I can apply for the Healthy Kids BUT I will have to be unemployed. What? Grrrrr I'm realllly considering going back to school or find an employer w/ health insurance. With almost every big buisness around here closing, it might be a challenge. Thank Goodness Brook only has to go to the doc a few times a year. Dr Tami is sending referals out this am to get all the blood work and other stuff done before the end of Sept, just to be sure it can get done. It will be ok. We will work with what we have. Might have to move to the farm for awhile but thats ok too. Brook is starting to like the goats  |
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Post by sugarbabymarlena on Aug 28, 2009 10:12:51 GMT -5
come live here! Its the same weather and washingtons restrictions are differnt hubby makes oh $2600mo and marlena is hanging on medically by a thread, but its way higher than 1500... I also know that if you move to Arizona, HOT! they have unconditional healt for special needs, im like you tho, I like it in the NW! did you ever find out if insurance companys will take her with "pre existing conditions"? I ran into this a year ago, but hubby started making less so didnt have to worry so much... |
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Post by Monique on Aug 28, 2009 12:33:33 GMT -5
Jennifer, well that stinks! so you have to be poverty level to qualify? I know that alot of part time jobs offer benefits like Target and Starbucks. Not sure what your situation is currently. If you are working or not working or if you currently have insurance. So maybe Obama's health plan reform is better than nothing.
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Aug 28, 2009 12:40:49 GMT -5
Oh yea, I work but no insurance. I'm looking for a new job but w/ no one but Hub's( who isn't by doc orders spose to be watching Brook untill she is verbal and able to call 911) to watch Brooker it's gunna be tough. They are no longer going by my income. They took her SSI/Medicade away b/c my Hub's qualified for SSD. She now has Aux Bennifits and it screwed everything up. Oh well, life will go on. We will survive one way or another. No i have not called around yet either. Don't want to get discouraged and frustrated any more than i already am...LOL I need to give it a break for a minute. Way to much going on right now Oh I'd love to move far away from this town but I can't untill Mary is 21 or married. I can't move more than 60 miles away w/o going to court again to ask permission to do so. |
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Post by jessjetland on Aug 28, 2009 18:26:28 GMT -5
In Mn we have whats called TEFRA (medical assistance for children with special needs) and when I googled it, it said the income cut off is like $776 a month. They don't always specify that its only the childs income that they are counting. We have a financial caseworker who helps low-income families (even though we are considered one) and she has helped so much.
Just a thought
Jess
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Post by Chris too on Aug 28, 2009 22:59:41 GMT -5
In IN we have Children's Special Health Care Service for which any child with a disability can qualify if the family income is under 250% of the poverty line. Stevie qualified for it for about 3 years, and it covered everything to do with her qualifying diagnosis (Ds) plus all dental, eyes, and ALL prescriptions no matter what they were for. It was just a secondary insurer (covering only what the regular insurance wouldn't) but served as a primary in the absence of other insurance. Very nice. I just wish they had it on a graduated scale so that we could get some help now that we are somewhat, but not that much, above that line.
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Post by Chris too on Aug 28, 2009 23:05:54 GMT -5
Jen, why aren't you a family of 4? Can't you count Mary?
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Aug 29, 2009 9:12:24 GMT -5
Can't count Mary. Her Dad has custody even though we share the time 50~50. We have a strange custody aggreement. The judge said, back then, we had a very interesting aggreement and he's never granted something of the sort, but he did after we explained the situation. It works for us. Mary has great insurance through the Prison where her other Mom works. I just pay the co~pay and anything above the co~pay we split 50~50. Pretty much everything for Mary is split 50~50. Took two to tango, takes two to pay. Right now i'm just Thankfull I do have a job, insurance or not, Thankful Brooker is healthy, Thankful Dr Tami got the referals called in, Thankful I can transfer Brooker to my doctors office who knows I pay my bills and has a payment arrangement. It will be ok. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe this is my sign to get some sort of education to be able to care for Brooker forever. I'm just still confused as to "why" she lost benifits. Lets say I made $2000 a month and Brooker had $600 from SSI. She qualified for Medicade. Now we add another $1000 to the income from Hub's and I see she wouldn't qualift, I can pay my own, no big deal, if I could find an insurance company to cover her. If I quit my job she still wouldn't qualify because btwn Hubs SSD and Brookers Aux Benifits, we would still be $200 over their income leval. It's just all boogered up I say. I'm waiting for their explanation, in writing, b/c what they are saying contradicts what the lawyer told us. Just want to make sure were all on the same page Like I said, we'll be ok no matter what. Something always works out. I really think this is a sign from above, to get off my lazy, thinking about it butt, and do something so Brooker will be ok and I can take care of her when Hub's is gone. |
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Post by faithhope on Sept 5, 2009 13:32:38 GMT -5
We are so on the same wavelength girl, I was just talking about this with my husband. Then I saw your post the next day. So what is going on??? We get Medicaid, but afraid that we will not always qualify. It islike they trap us from not making more money. gotta go, baby crying...
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Post by CC on Sept 5, 2009 21:47:11 GMT -5
You asked "Is ASD and PDA considered a pre~exist" I am not 100% sure girl but I do believe yes it is. We are a small business and cover our employees and I do believe if you want to add a child if they do not give you family coverage you can if you pay for it. The key I believe to handle pre-existing conditions is to never go without insurance, like if you lose a job and then lose your health care go on Cobra (sp?) which you pay on your own up to a year I believe they allow you. By then hopefully you are picked up again with an employer based insurance policy. Least thats how it goes here in New Jersey. I have so many mixed feelings on this health insurance reform because something has to be done, WHAT I am not sure but its out of control. The cost of health insurance is just NUTS and goes up yearly  and so many like you don't have it and that is just not right. Just asking but now that Brook is of school age can she get it because of that now? My own Bro could not afford health insurance but somehow because his girls were in school he was able to get them covered, Hmmm I will be seeing him tomorrow and ask him how he did that. HUGS CC ~ |
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Post by Googsmom aka Jennifer on Sept 5, 2009 23:39:30 GMT -5
The school. I forgot about that. Thx CC. I had insurance for Mary for a couple yrs when she was little. I'm going to check it out. I can't recall if it was just for athletics Hmm Jess, my problem is the finding private insurance, and being able to afford to live or pay the insurance and the whole pre existing condition stuff. I'm very lucky, very lucky, as of yet, Brook has been pretty darn healthy. If she is sick, Dr Tami will still see her. She lives near by and travels this way often I can just save some $ for when she needs to go in, until I find some insurance. We got the echo and sure steps taken care of the other day, were ok |
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and so many like you don't have it and that is just not right.