My Employer cannot provide Health Insurance- What are my options?

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Admin]

Dear DesiOPT.com, I have the following question. Please help me out: "Hello all, I just graduated in May and found a job at a small tech start-up (I am on OPT). My employer (being a very small company) says they wont be able to provide me health insurance. I have had a medical issue in the past and when I contact insurance companies, they have declined my application.
1. Could you please provide me some advice?
2. I have heard that OPT students can get insurance from their college? Is this true?
Thanks in advance for your insights.


This was posted on https://www.facebook.com/desiopt1 on May 30th 2013

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

It depends on employers company regarding the insurance and yes the college will provide the insurance package depending on the scenario....

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

The best thing is contact another insurance agency and never ever tell them any of your health conditions as they would consider that as a pre existing condition and you would never get a insurance from any of the providers. just talk to them and say everything is fine until and unless if u have an existing condition which is visible .

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

http://www.isoa.org/default.aspx?ref=2173404

ISO Health insurance is good.. it is good for students with less monthly charges i.e., 59 (Age between 25 to 29) and $41 for Age between 12 to 24).. You can use the above link.. My suggestion would be select Compass Gold and also refer to the documentation whether it is comfortable to your health conditions and also contact customer service if you any more questions..
Enjoy.. Maadi..

[spotwanderer]

Hi all,
I am on OPT extension working at a startup.10 days back i had gone to a hospital on Emrgency Room visit.The bill i have got now is around 5k$ which they had already discounted to 1.2k$ in the bill as i had told them initially i dont have insurance.This 5k$ is apart frm lab services bill(350$) and the physician's bill(440$)
Contacted the hospital,asking for financial assistancce programs,cant find any.Are there any financial assistance programs i could use?.

thanks & rgds,
spot wanderer

[DesiOPTForumAdmin]

Please find responses from readers on DesiOPT Facebook page as well: http://www.facebook.com/desiopt1/posts/682105318473507

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

When did you graduated? If you graduated this May, then you might have school insurance active till August, check up on that. In the case, if the school insurance is active they will pay the whole bill. There are certain ways to dismiss the bill, however it will screw your credit score. (quite important thing in US and A ). Otherwise there isn't much you can do other than start paying the bill; whole at once or partially, step-by-step.

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

I am assuming he/she has graduated before May since he/she is in OPT extension.

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

u r screwed. why on earth are u w/o any insurance.?

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

If you have decent credit score and income on papers. Maybe you can apply for a personal loan or a credit card and pay the hospital now and pay the loan/card over time. It is not a financial assistance but more like a payment deferment.

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

dont worry. keep paying small instalments. find a job and 1.2 k is not much to pay if u have a job. be happy atleast they discounted the bill on humanitarian grounds.

[DesiOPT-FaceBook-Fan]

You can bargain and say I cannot pay then they will give an option saying pay 30% of the bill. But you need to pay the amount in less than one month. This all depends how do you make the deal. I heard this kind of issue before.