Health Insurance

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone:

I'm in a desperate situation and I'm wondering how everyone in the

group handles obating individual health insurance with pre-existing

conditions.

I have Sjogren's Syndrone, Fibromayglia and Osteo-Arthritis.

My current polcy through COBRA will expire on 8-31-08. It cannot be

extended because the company that I worked for had less than 20

employees so they follow State guidelines not Federal gudelines. The

state (Illinois) will not allow COBRA to be extended longer than 9

months.

I checked with my current insurance company Blue Cross/Blue Shield

about the cost of a conversion policy the cost is $3,000.00 a month-NOT!

I applied to AARP twice (once with AETNA and then United Healthcare)

they both turned me down.

I was approached by a group (Federation of Self Employed People) i

think is the name of it. They would not insure me without my pre-

existing conditions being excluded The premium for that is $500+ a

month.

I enlisted the services of a broker that works for the adminstrator of

my present policy. He is nothing but a joke. I summitted an application

along with a check to Blue Cross/Blue Shield on 6-11-08 and as of

yesterday 8-15-08 I still don't have a decision from Blue Cross/Blue

Shield. I've gotten 2 letters from Blue Cross/Blue Shield stating the

broker is not authorized to do business in Illinois. The broker says

they are and they've solved the problem and my file is in underwriting.

He also says there's nothing that he can do because he's at the

underwriter's mercy. Meanwhile the clock is ticking.

The state of Illinois has high risk insurance for people like me with

pre-existing conditions. The premium is $838.00 a month which I can't

afford.

I don't qualify for Medicaid, I don't qualify for Medicare until 4-1-

2010. I don't qualify for any assistance because I make more than 200

or 300% of the Federal Proverty Level.

Any suggestions are welcome.

Sorry for the long post Im just very frustrated

Ain't America grand!