Missouri Health Insurance - leaving job.

I'd sure love some advice here.

I am posting this in both the Missouri Forum and Health forum because I thought I might find helpful info in both

I may have acted without thinking things through. My job has been extremely stressful lately. I have been having some problems - mainly acid reflux, and nausea due to worry about my job. I have always had the problem that when I'm worried I feel sick to my stomach. Lately, I have been getting sick about weekly at just the thought of going to work. By afternoon at work I'm usually fine. When I'm away from work I'm fine. I decided for my own health I was better off leaving my job before I did have a serious problem. Yesterday I wrote a letter to my employer giving my two week notice. I'll actually be employed a little longer and have health insurance a little longer because I have about 8 days vacation time that will come after that.

I've always had health insurance through my job - I've never been without coverage. Yesterday, after I did this, I noticed a small round light brown spot on my upper back - hopefully nothing, but I think I should probably get it checked out before I leave my job. I wonder if it matters about whether I get it looked at now or later, in it being a pre-existing conditions. I have no symptoms, it's probably just a mole, but I'd want to be sure. I am worried about pre-existing condition exclusions, if I should leave my job and try to switch health insurance. Also, though I am pretty sure my other problems I have been having are due to my job stress - I'm fine when I'm away from my job - If for some reason it did turn into being something more, I worry other insurance would exclude me. I have a couple other small problems that I have medicine for, such as hay fever, but nothing serious. I am sure they would count the acid reflux as a pre-existing condition.l

I read that the new cobra coverage by the federal government does not apply if you voluntarily leave a job. I have been at this job for over 12 years - I think it's very possible my employer would "lay me off" so that I could get help on keeping the group health insurance if I asked him. I think it's also probable that he would let me change my mind and not leave the company after all. I did not try to blame him at all in my letter, just said that worry about the job was the reason I was leaving. The company is a small one - about 7 people - but I know people have been able to continue their health insurance in the past - I don't know if it's cobra or not.

My parents will help me with the cost of health insurance & expenses if necessary. They'd rather see me healthy than sick because of worry from work - which I new before I took this step. Because of the economy it's possible I won't be able to find a job that offers health insurance at first. I don't want to do anything wrong in terms of what health insurance I do get that would mean I'd get sick and not be covered.

One thing I think I read is that you are covered if you are under continuous coverage in Missouri, but you have to accept the cobra if it's offered. I am wondering if I'm understanding that correctly.

Then, if I were to miraculously get a new job that does have health insurance would pre-existing conditions be covered - I wonder that as well.

Any advice would be appreciated.

You have to pay 100% of the premium. Its cost often exceeds what you get in unemployment.

In Kansas, it is a law that pre-existing conditions must be covered when you get a new employer provided policy. I am not sure about MO and this also could be a federal not state law. But I am not sure.

Good luck. I hear ya on job stress. It's a health destroyer.

It doesn't matter whether you left voluntarily or was laid off..if you pay the entire cost of the premiums plus a one or two percent administration fee you can continue your group health coverage for 18 months.

As I understand it the COBRA provision in the "stimulus" package applies to workers 55 and older. If they wish they can continue on COBRA for ten years, versus the usual 18 months, until they are eligible for Medicare. Of course that means ten YEARS of making that premium payment.

As for pre-existing...once you leave a job, voluntarily or not, you will receive what is called a HIPAA letter. It is a letter of creditible coverage that states you were once covered under group health insurance. What it does is protect you against any pre-existing provisions of a new employer sponsored plan or an individual policy. It is VERY important that if you do end up trying to secure an individual policy that you do it within 60 days of losing your employer sponsored health insurance.

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/newsroom/fshipaa.html

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) offers protections for millions of American workers that improve portability and continuity of health insurance coverage.

snip

Certificates of creditable coverage must be provided automatically and free of charge by the plan or issuer when an individual loses coverage under the plan, becomes entitled to elect COBRA continuation coverage or exhausts COBRA continuation coverage. A certificate must also be provided free of charge upon request while you have health coverage or anytime within 24 months after your coverage ends