AboutMichael Higgins Expertise All questions pertaining to health insurance, whether group, individual/family, student, child-only, COBRA, HIPAA, Portability, dental. No expert knowledge in areas such as life insurance, disability, workman's compensation, auto, etc.
Experience 27 years as owner of health insurance agency, primarily dealing with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona.
Education/Credentials College, Business Administration.
My husband and I are currently enrolled in my health insurance plan through my workplace (I work for the government). We're going through open enrollment and my employer has opted to not offer our existing health insurance, and offer employees one type of insurance only. I'm currently in my third trimester of pregnancy and am very comfortable with my doctor/hospital chosen. Under the new plan that we are being forced to change to, I can still keep my current doctor/hospital though I will need to pay significantly higher rates, copays, coinsurance, etc. I've already asked my employer if it was possible to continue my current health care plan for the next three months (my husbands insurance will start on January 1, 2010 so we plan on cancelling mine), as others have instructed me to do. Along with that, I've heard that if a woman is in her third trimester of pregnancy, she can't be forced to change insurance coverage for the remainder of her claim ie; pregnancy, though I can't find any information to back it up. Is there a law that states this or is it simply a matter of ethics? I live in the state of Ohio.
Thanks for any information that you can provide,
Michelle
Answer Michelle:
Each state has different mandates, i.e., requirements that insurance companies doing business in that state must abide by. Whether Ohio has such a rule I do not know. In Arizona the claim would be paid by the new insurer and you would have the larger out of pocket expenses to deal with. You would be given credit for any deductible already met though. The easiest way to answer your question will be to contact the new insurer and simply ask what your financial exposure will be.
