Independent Insurance

[spotty_dog]

That's pretty sweet! I guess we went from my university coverage (pretty comprehensive) to his residency coverage (pretty comprehensive), to self-employment. It didn't occur to me that HDHP could be an option within an employer-provided plan. Durh.

Right now we aren't using ours for a future savings vehicle, just funneling our actual healthcare expenses through it. My bank is giving us .05%, but it looks like if we can build up the balance we can make a much better rate...hm.

[MrsSz]

Okay... another question... there is a 12 month waiting period for preexisting conditions... which is fine, I don't have anything too crazy in the past 12 months. But what happens if we do get pregnant? Is it not covered until I've had the policy a year?? i swear I need an instruction manual and a PhD to understand this crap

[diggitydot]

I'm fairly certain that pregnancy can no longer be considered a pre-existing condition.

[Deebs]

Yep - even before the ACA, pregnancy could not be included as a pre-existing condition. I'm exhausted, but I think it was HIPAA that established that rule.

[niener]

I would double check that because on the policy we just hopped onto this past July pregnancy was considered a pre-existing condition. There's a clause somewhere in HIPAA or the ACA (I forget exactly but it's in something official) that allows certain government-funded agencies (which includes public Universities) to opt out of the pregnancy requirement. It's very rare but some policies still count it and I'm not 100% sure when it's allowable so my advice would be to just ask or make sure you read the handbook very thoroughly.