HELP!!! Maryland health insurance question

[MCunningham]

Does anyone know anything official about health insurance coverage in Maryland?

The reason I ask is that we currently have health insurance coverage through my husband's employer. However, he is being laid off on 12 October (3 weeks away).

In an effort to avoid being uninsured for ANY length of time, I'm trying to sign up through MY employer, but they're telling me that it's illegal for us to have coverage through two different insurance policies, regardless of the fact that my husband's health plan will be discontinued as of 12 October, and as of this week, we will not be using it anymore.

This just doesn't sound right to me. If we have to wait until his coverage is terminated, that will land us in the boat of being uninsured, and our premiums risk being higher and our "exclusions" being more strict.

Does anyone know if this policy of dual coverage being illegal is really true? This just sounds preposterous to me...

Please help....

MC

 

[pippa]

I am by no means an expert but I lived in Maryland for 32 years and you absolutely CAN have 2 insurance plans. You just have to let them both know that you have coverage through both. Unless there has been some change that I am not aware of it is definitely NOT illegal.

Although, I suspect that some plans can deny to cover you if you do have another primary. But that would be particular to the plan and still it's not ILLEGAL...just bot allowed.

 

[famousohara]

MC

The information you received is completely incorrect. Although I am in Wisconsin, I run two insurance accounts out of Maryland. We administer a medicaid plan called Helix Family Choice and we also administer a plan that covers cardiac care/joint replacement/organ transplants. You most certainly can have multiple insurance plans at any given time. We coordinate benefits for members who have any combination of Medicare, Medicaid and a commercial insurance plan. I would go back to your HR department and find out where this information is coming from . . . smart of you to question this. Good luck and if you need more info, don't hesitate to ask.

Mo

 

[marnold]

MC,

Seek more answers...this just doesn't sound right to me. My DH and I have lived all over and I have never heard of this. When we lived in MD we were covered by military health insurance so I cannot speak specifically for MD. I would ask to see the legal issue in writing. Maybe it would be better served to talk directly to the health insurance provider rather than through your employer?

Also, I am sure that you know about COBRA which will be offered to your husband after termination. It is quite expensive but it can fill in a temp coverage gap.

Good luck to you!

 

[Prettyriverz]

It is true. You can only have main coverage under one plan. You can have a secondary insurance carrier, but those charges are picked up after the initial carrier pays.

 

[pippa]

>It is true. You can only have main coverage under one plan.
>You can have a secondary insurance carrier, but those charges
>are picked up after the initial carrier pays.

Right...this was the point I was making. You can only have one PRIMARY, but it is certainly NOT ILLEGAL to have two insurance coverages.