How long have you been uninsured? I think there is a way to get the coverage back. You should really do all you can to get your coverage back in some way shape or form.

Yeah, I wouldn't shrug it off so easily -- there's potentially a lot at stake. Did you just accidentally underpay? Was the payment slightly late in arriving? Is there an appeals process?

Thanks for the suggestions. There may be a way to keep something COBRA-like if I'm not accepted for Blue Cross. But truth be told, the payments (near $400/month) weren't cost effective. If I'd just paid out-of-pocket for the few doctor's visits and prescriptions I've used in the past year or so, I would have saved a TON of money. So I guess I do feel ok about not having coverage for visits, check-ups, etc. The only thing I'm really worried about is the catastrophic stuff -- should I have to be hospitalized or something. So assuming I don't make the Blue Cross plan I applied for, my next step is to see if I can find an affordable high-deductable/no-office-visit/no-prescription plan.

Being on an SSRI (a very inexpensive generic) already disqualified me for a number of better plans, which I find just sparks my anger at the whole corrupt and broken system. So I guess part of my "shrugging it off" attitude is just that.

All that said, I know more people without insurance than I do with insurance. I realize that doesn't mean there isn't a lot at stake, but it does make it seem a bit less, I don't know, shocking or alarming.

Yes, it sounds like you don't need COBRA. Yes, you DO need the cheapest catastrophic plan from a reputable company that you can get.

I work for an insurance company, but not in sales (verrrry far from it), and we don't even write personal health, but email if you have any basic, boring insurance questions, like what ifs and is this fishy or not. Good luck and good health and good money to you!

I have a catastrophic plan from Blue Shield in CA. It runs me about $50/mo with a $4K deductable.

It is *so* *worth* *having*. I've had about $1K in medical expenses this year (damn body decides to break down as soon as I leave an HMO) but that would have been easily $2-3K if I hadn't had insurance at all. And yes, if something is really wrong (hit by a car, lump someplace it shouldn't be...) I'm still in okay financial shape.

Fwiw, I was on Welbutrin the year before applying to this plan, and had no issues. They asked about my asthma but that was it.

Aw, thanks so much, rainbaby!

I have now joined the ranks of the uninsured

Welcome! Isn't it a lovely place to be?

join the club....

watch your step...

What the hell is insurance?

*shrugs, drinks, does yoga*