Changing Jobs/Insurance

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:20 pm

I will be changing jobs the middle of next month. With that, I will also be changing insurance. I don't know yet what insurance I will be changing to, but I am currently ~6 months into a 10 or 12 month rental of my CPAP machine. So, I won't make it the full period with my current insurance. My new insurance will not start until the first of June, so I will be using COBRA to cover the gap for a few weeks.

I have a couple of questions on the best way to handle the transition and would like to know if anybody has any better suggestions.

When I change to a new insurance company, will they require that I take another sleep study? Will they cover a new machine right away? Will they say that this was a prior condition and not cover any CPAP equipment at all? Should I/Can I pay the balance of what is owed on my current machine and keep it?

I was thinking that if they will cover the cost of a new machine, it may be an opportunity to pick up a better machine that will allow me to monitor my treatment better.

I have learned so much since I started treatment...its too bad I didn't find this site before I started!

If anybody has any experience with this or any comments or recommendations, I would really appreciate it!

Thanks!
Mike

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:03 pm

Mike,

Probably too many unknowns to guess at. It'll probably depend on the group policy rules (I'm assuming you'll be in a group).

If you have your prescription (and copy of your sleep study), I doubt if they would have you take another sleep study.

I'm sure you'd also be starting over with deductibles for the year, so if you are thinking about a different machine, you might be better off (?) turning your old one in (terminating that contract) and using your prescription to buy what you want online. In any case, do the math on this one.....what your monthly co-payments are, the balance of the CPAP contract, etc.

Good luck in your new job.

Den

DP · Post by DP » Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:51 am

Call your current insurance carrier. Tell them you are doing well with your CPAP machine and you wish to convert it to purchase.

fidget · Post by **fidget** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 8:20 am

As long as you're using COBRA with no break in service, there shouldn't be a problem with carrying on with things the way there are. Make sure you have every bit of paperwork you can have though.

Legally there can be no pre-existing clause if there is simply a transfer of insurance with no break in coverage. Just make sure you don't go more than 60 days without that COBRA coverage. That just happened to a friend of mine, she had 64 days break when her husband changed jobs. She had a mammo done right before he changed, her breast cancer was diagnosed right after he started the new job, she's had her surgery and now found that his new insurance is calling it pre-existing. Sounds like they may have no chance either, since they'd turned down the COBRA coverage, for some reason, although since she'd never had a bad mammo before, it hadn't been a real concern to her either.

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:49 am

Another suggestion.

You have a machine on rental that can be purchased new for $414. The humidifier is most likely already yours through insurance purchase as is the tube and mask. You have 4 or 6 months left of rental (which I understand you can't do because of job change). So if the insurance quotes you more than $414 to complete the purchase right now, or a new rental will be more than $414 you should buy your own.

There is no tax, and no shipping from CPAP.com. You can order up a replacement (brand new) and hand back the rental now. Then there is no problem with changes in insurance coverage if you are looking at more than $414 to deal with a local DME.

WifeIsHappyNow · Post by **WifeIsHappyNow** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 8:00 pm

Thanks for the responses! There really are a lot of unknowns with this right now. Since the CPAP rental is monthly, I should be able to hold onto what I have thru the end of the month even if I switch insurance in the middle of the month, right? That would allow me to get a better idea of my new insurance.
Between that and the suggestions offered here, I at least have a few options to consider.

Thanks again!
Mike