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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 17:07:52
Hey does anyone have reasonable mental health insurance? I am under my parents but when I get married that will end. what do I do? Im a college student and cant afford squat. I get free counseling here so thats good, but I need meds and such. any good advice? companies? websites or phone numbers?
Posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 18:40:19
In reply to Mental Health insurance?!!, posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 17:07:52
Karalynn--
Find out from your pharmacist and treatment providers how much your treatment would cost without insurance per month.
Then find out how much COBRA would cost per month (COBRA allows you to continue the coverage that you have now under your parent's plan if you pay the full monthly premium...I think they let you take if for a maximum of 18 months.)
If they the COBRA is cheaper or even $100 more, TAKE THE COBRA. If you STOP insurance coverage, your mental health diagnosis becomes a pre-existing condition. This limits your choices under your spouses health plan later on.
If you do NOT take a "break" from insurance coverage, you should be protected under the Insurance Portability Act (I believe it is called) and you should be allowed to switch to your new husband's coverage on the day of your marriage (or the first of the month after you are married) without dealing with "pre-existing condition" issues.
If you have have a "pre-existing condition", some plans will make you pay for a year of insurance coverage but will not cover your "pre-existing condition" until the beginning of the 2nd year. That means that you would be paying for insurance PLUS your mental health prescriptions and visits for one year.
Try to avoid that break in coverage. COBRA is expensive, especially when you are a college student. But living without coverage is even MORE expensive in the long run.
Posted by BackOfClass on December 5, 2003, at 18:44:16
In reply to Mental Health insurance?!!, posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 17:07:52
The county I live in has a mental health agency for those like me who can't afford insurance. You might want to check into that. I am also a student who owns squat. It's funny and sad that I actually earn less per month working then the cost I would otherwise have to pay for the meds I take every month.
Posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 18:46:43
In reply to Where do you live? , posted by BackOfClass on December 5, 2003, at 18:44:16
> The county I live in has a mental health agency for those like me who can't afford insurance. You might want to check into that. I am also a student who owns squat. It's funny and sad that I actually earn less per month working then the cost I would otherwise have to pay for the meds I take every month.
>I'm in the United States. Ive even tried looking insurance online but its not been too sucessful.
Posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 18:48:10
In reply to Re: Mental Health insurance?!!, posted by loni on December 5, 2003, at 18:40:19
> Karalynn--
>
> Find out from your pharmacist and treatment providers how much your treatment would cost without insurance per month.
>
> Then find out how much COBRA would cost per month (COBRA allows you to continue the coverage that you have now under your parent's plan if you pay the full monthly premium...I think they let you take if for a maximum of 18 months.)
>
> If they the COBRA is cheaper or even $100 more, TAKE THE COBRA. If you STOP insurance coverage, your mental health diagnosis becomes a pre-existing condition. This limits your choices under your spouses health plan later on.
>
> If you do NOT take a "break" from insurance coverage, you should be protected under the Insurance Portability Act (I believe it is called) and you should be allowed to switch to your new husband's coverage on the day of your marriage (or the first of the month after you are married) without dealing with "pre-existing condition" issues.
>
> If you have have a "pre-existing condition", some plans will make you pay for a year of insurance coverage but will not cover your "pre-existing condition" until the beginning of the 2nd year. That means that you would be paying for insurance PLUS your mental health prescriptions and visits for one year.
>
> Try to avoid that break in coverage. COBRA is expensive, especially when you are a college student. But living without coverage is even MORE expensive in the long run.The problem is that neither of us will have any insurance when we get married. he doesnt really need it anyway so Im worried about me. thanks so much for your help. ill check into COBRA.
Posted by stjames on December 5, 2003, at 23:13:42
In reply to Mental Health insurance?!!, posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 17:07:52
> Hey does anyone have reasonable mental health insurance?
AFAIK there is no seperate "Mental Health insurance". Most of this is covered under a general medical policy or HMO.
The problem I see with HMO's is they will pay for medical treatment but very few thearpy sessions.
Posted by Dr. Bob on December 9, 2003, at 1:41:07
In reply to Mental Health insurance?!!, posted by Karalyn on December 5, 2003, at 17:07:52
> Hey does anyone have reasonable mental health insurance?
Since this isn't about medication per se, I'd like to redirect this thread to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20031207/msgs/287917.html
Thanks,
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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