Moving to the states question

[Cherrymom]

hey everyone, found out in the last couple weeks that we may be moving across the border. not sure how I feel about that yet but coming around.

Has anyone tried to get medical insurance with pre-existing MS dx? Seems like a crazy idea to me moving from great coverage to maybe no coverage but hubby is quite keen. Not to mention two special needs children?

A call has been put into the employers health insurance specialist but I'm to curious to wait so I thought I'd ask. I'm also in a clinical trial presently so I'll be chatting with them at the ms clinic this week to see what possibilities are there as well.

Thoughts? Are we losing our minds?

[Mamabug]

Would likely be real difficult to obtain private insurance, but, I think most employers are required to cover you.

Even without employer coverage, insurance is sometimes attainable through some of the new health care bills that have been passed under Obama. The social services offices in your new state may be able to give you info about that, if employer coverage is unavailable.

Wish I could give you more specific information. But, the employer's health insurance specialist sounds like a good place to start for information.

I'm hoping that, although your hubby is quite "keen" on moving here, that, if, after researching all of your options, you find that health insurance is not available, he'll reconsider his options. Living here with MS and two special needs kids does not sound do-able without health insurance.

~ Faith

[onlyairfare]

If your husband works for a large employer with good insurance, you might be OK. Employer groups above a certain size must cover all members of the group without underwriting - that is, they cannot exclude you because of a pre-existing condition.

If you have special needs children, be very careful. Some insurance companies, especially HMO's, have low limits on what they will provide. They may cover only a certain number of rehab or physical therapy visits per year (maybe only 20 visits), for example, which can be a serious limitation if you have a child who needs weekly PT.

Also, it may depend on where you are moving. I used to live in Bellingham, Washington, about 20 miles south of the the border with BC, and only about 50 miles from Vancouver. There were many binational families who would cross the border either way for health care.

I used to get my travel immunization in British Columbia - the doctors were better and more knowledgeable and the shots costs about one-third the US price. Most US insurance doesn't cover travel immunizations anyway.