Money and Health:Health Insurance

If you've been fired, you're almost certain to lose your employer-sponsored benefits with your full-time job. That's why you need an action plan, stat. Make sure you know your health-insurance rights and options, because the clock starts ticking the minute you get that pink slip.  Read More

Chances are, doctor visits and prescriptions are not all your health insurance plan has to offer. Many plans today offer disease management programs, improved coverage for mental health conditions and infertility, and much more. Be sure to ask about these benefits, because they may not be well publicized by your insurer.  Read More

Denied insurance claims—even for care that seems obviously necessary—are, unfortunately, all too common occurrences. If your claim is denied, the first step is to contact your insurance company. While there is always the chance that the denial was an unfortunate and harmless misunderstanding, don’t get your hopes up for an easy resolution.   Read More

If you leave your employer—whether voluntarily or involuntarily—you’ll need to take steps to stay covered by your insurer. When you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, or cancer, it is crucial that you avoid any breaks in coverage that could trigger a preexisting-condition exclusion. This could make all the difference in your ability to continue using the same doctors, especially if you are in the middle of receiving important treatment.   Read More

My father had type 2 diabetes. When I was 27 years old, he underwent surgery for blocked carotid arteries in his neck. He had a stroke a few days after the surgery and was in a vegetative state for a year and a half until he died. After that I began to think that maybe I wasn't invincible...  Read More

COBRA
Stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985. It’s a federal law that gives you the right to temporarily (for 18 months or more, in most cases) continue with the group insurance plan of your employer even after you leave a job—voluntarily or involuntarily—or when you reduce your hours, such as from full-time to part-time.  Read More

Diabetes has been in my family for generations. But frankly, by the time I was in my 20s, I was sick of hearing about it. It was always, "Don’t do this, you’re going to be diabetic; don’t do that, you’re going to be like your grandparents."   Read More