I need help masto buddies!  I just got my layoff notice, and found out that extending my insurance under my employer's COBRA is just financially impossible.  I would have to come up with $579/month!  I couldn't make that on just unemployment.

When I called and asked about trimming that down to a tailor-made, bare bones policy for me, I ran into a wall (I don't have kids or anything, so don't need the bells and whistles).  Basically, because of the mastocytosis, they said I was not eligible to get an individual policy until 6 months had passed due to a pre-existing condition.  I have Blue Cross.  My only option with them is to pay the $579 for six months, which is impossible for me to do financially.  This is ridiculous, because I have had them for the past six years, and am under their coverage right now!  I am indolent, so it is not like I am highly reactive or anything.

So masto friends, what have you done regarding such things?  Can anyone suggest a good insurance carrier that might take me on at a more affordable rate?  Aside from the masto, I am in really good health.  Just got checked over thoroughly a couple of months ago, and I am squeaky clean!

Please, any tips you have on how to get around this mess would be helpful.  Until I find another job, I may have to go without health insurance, and that would be awful.

Please keep me in your prayers.  I am under a lot of stress and this is very upsetting news to me.  I hope I don't start up with another round of "shocky-shock" and mess things up even more.  I don't know how I am going to get through all of this without having a major blowout!

Oh jbean, I'm so sorry and wish there was something I could offer you that would be helpful. All I have are my prayers and I will be sure to add you and your situation. I hope someone else on this forum has some info to help you.
Kim

You might try to find out whether your state has a "high risk pool" in which insurers each agree to take high risk patients ( I.e., patients with potentially expensive conditions.). Whoever provides your car or other insurance might also be able to write a health insurance policy.  If you belong to any professional organizations, they might offer health insurance.

The pre-existing condition is a tough one.  Hope you can find something affordable!

Update on my insurance issue.  One of the insurance companies I applied to declined me because they dumped indolent systemic mastocytosis in the same category with mast cell leukemia and mast cell sarcoma (Brilliant!).  Obvisously they have no understanding of the distinctions between these conditions, or even what "idolent" means.

So, I wound up going back to my former insurer, and purchasing an individual policy BEFORE my former policy expired.  This is an important point for anyone switching insurance.  It goes way easier if you don't have a gap in insurance.  

I called my state's insurance regulation office, and they gave me a lot of helpful information and advocated for me.

I have a high deductable now, and have to wait 180 days to cover anything masto-related, but at least I have something to back me up.  It was half the price of the COBRA insurance cost I would have had to pay after losing my job.

JBean;
How aggravating these insurance issues can be-not to mention the added stress ! When I was so sick I had to resign from my job-they tried to decline coverage (husbands Insurance). I had to jump through hoops to prove that I was covered under my ins. right up until the day I was added to his. God bless the ins. coordinator for his company-she made it retroactive so Id be covered-and they STILL gave me & my dr.s a hard time! We work for years, pay into the system, then they try to dump us when we really need them.
SOOO- anyone in this situation- make Sure you are gonna be picked up by the new insurance As Soon As yours ends, or they will say you had a pre-exsisting condition,etc etc. Also, if you have health ins., and your spouse does too, you can also do a "coordination of benefits sometimes.
hope this helps others, and good luck J,
lori

Jbean I am going through this right now as well. I got a layoff notice as of July 5th and am now paying Cobra $650 dollars a month, which I cant afford, but I have no choice. I have applied for Medicaid, but "i make too much on my long term disability," which I dont know how this is possible. I am going to now call my state insurance regulation office to see if they have any ideas as I just can't continue to afford COBRA. Thank you everyone for all of the helpful advice on this.