I am the OP and am asking this question for a lot of the reasons pps mentioned. Spouse makes in the mid six figures. We have an SN kid. I finished a Phd a few years ago in a non-lucrative field. I'm at the moment where I need to decide that I'm going to abandon all hope of working but helping to make the life DH and I want to have (less stress, not too many things outsourced, time to devote to kid's needs) or dabbling in my field for a pittance or trying to find some sort of non-profit job which would likely require full time hours. We are insured to the ying-yang for everything that you can buy insurance for but I know that Cobra is pricey and private can be not so great. Health insurance is the thing I can't figure out because of DC's needs. There are some smart people on this board--just wondering how others planned for this contingency.

DH is a fed so I can continue coverage under our current family plan paying the same premium for the same coverage. We have a child with SN and I chose to stay home while he was young and before we knew he had SNs. I am thinking about returning to work as an attorney but may settle for doing occasional contract work rather than going back to a full fledged career. My DH will be retiring in 10 yrs when DC starts high school and I'd like to be home with them.

Anonymous wrote:01:01, think very carefully before you give up your job. I, too, have an sn kid who requires hours of extremely expensive therapy a day and I gave up my job to make it work. But I regret it. My kid is doing great, butI wish I had worked something else out. I feel like a shell of myself. And I have little energy left to job hunt now.

+1. Is there any way you can still work for the same company part-time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private insurance/ Individual policy not thru an employer.

What if anyone has developed a "pre-existing" condition?

That's why I also voted for getting a job that would cover it: I do have a preexisting condition.

Isn't the new health reform act supposed to prevent denial of insurance due to preexisting conditions? When does that kick in? Just curious (I thought it was 2014, but not sure).

I'm not sure when that kicks in, but there are some options in the meantime. Requirements are that the application has been without health insurance for 6+ months, and has a pre-existing condition or has been denied health insurance because of a medical condition. The prices appear to be reasonable, but I can't speak to the coverage -- anyone else?

https://www.pcip.gov/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private insurance/ Individual policy not thru an employer.

What if anyone has developed a "pre-existing" condition?

That's why I also voted for getting a job that would cover it: I do have a preexisting condition.

Isn't the new health reform act supposed to prevent denial of insurance due to preexisting conditions? When does that kick in? Just curious (I thought it was 2014, but not sure).

Romney said, if elected, that is one of the first things to go. So, if you have preexisting conditions, forget about it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go back to work and get benefits through the new job.

If this is your plan in this economy, after you've been out of the workforce for several years, then you need to think again.

Don't you think that if you're STILL a SAHM in this economy that you're really not "into" the economy?

It's all cherries and cream!

Let OP dream on!

New SAHM poster here. I've received two unsolicited job offers in the past year from clients I used to work for. Seems people remember when you're damn good at what you do, and they find a way to get you back with them. Not all SAHMs are financially clueless. Some of us know we have very strong professional reputations, are in demand, and aren't willing to let an irrational risk adversity stop us from doi g what we believe is best for our families and ourselves. To each her own, but don't assume SAHMs are uninfirmed it lack judgment.

1) Until you have a contract in hand, it's not really a job offer.

2) True, not all SAHMs are financially clueless, but many are unrealistically optimistic. Many don't have their own financial reserves; many have spouses who are under-insured for both disability and death.

3) For all those who are planning to rely on COBRA, they should realize that COBRA is typically not subsidized at the level of employer coverage. A family of 4 could easily spend $3K/month on COBRA.

Pp you are responding to here. Yes, I'm well aware of what a job offer is (even though, gasp, I've been home for 2 years after working as a lawyer for 16). And yes, SAHMs, WAHMs , WOHMs, and all the dads out there are capable of overestimating all sorts of things with significant potential financial implications. Certainly good for everyone without benefits through an employer (whether working or not) to realize cobra expenses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go back to work and get benefits through the new job.

If this is your plan in this economy, after you've been out of the workforce for several years, then you need to think again.

Don't you think that if you're STILL a SAHM in this economy that you're really not "into" the economy?

It's all cherries and cream!

Let OP dream on!

New SAHM poster here. I've received two unsolicited job offers in the past year from clients I used to work for. Seems people remember when you're damn good at what you do, and they find a way to get you back with them. Not all SAHMs are financially clueless. Some of us know we have very strong professional reputations, are in demand, and aren't willing to let an irrational risk adversity stop us from doi g what we believe is best for our families and ourselves. To each her own, but don't assume SAHMs are uninfirmed it lack judgment.

1) Until you have a contract in hand, it's not really a job offer.

2) True, not all SAHMs are financially clueless, but many are unrealistically optimistic. Many don't have their own financial reserves; many have spouses who are under-insured for both disability and death.

3) For all those who are planning to rely on COBRA, they should realize that COBRA is typically not subsidized at the level of employer coverage. A family of 4 could easily spend $3K/month on COBRA.

Pp you are responding to here. Yes, I'm well aware of what a job offer is (even though, gasp, I've been home for 2 years after working as a lawyer for 16). And yes, SAHMs, WAHMs , WOHMs, and all the dads out there are capable of overestimating all sorts of things with significant potential financial implications. Certainly good for everyone without benefits through an employer (whether working or not) to realize cobra expenses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go back to work and get benefits through the new job.

If this is your plan in this economy, after you've been out of the workforce for several years, then you need to think again.

Don't you think that if you're STILL a SAHM in this economy that you're really not "into" the economy?

It's all cherries and cream!

Let OP dream on!

New SAHM poster here. I've received two unsolicited job offers in the past year from clients I used to work for. Seems people remember when you're damn good at what you do, and they find a way to get you back with them. Not all SAHMs are financially clueless. Some of us know we have very strong professional reputations, are in demand, and aren't willing to let an irrational risk adversity stop us from doi g what we believe is best for our families and ourselves. To each her own, but don't assume SAHMs are uninfirmed it lack judgment.

1) Until you have a contract in hand, it's not really a job offer.

2) True, not all SAHMs are financially clueless, but many are unrealistically optimistic. Many don't have their own financial reserves; many have spouses who are under-insured for both disability and death.

3) For all those who are planning to rely on COBRA, they should realize that COBRA is typically not subsidized at the level of employer coverage. A family of 4 could easily spend $3K/month on COBRA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go back to work and get benefits through the new job.

If this is your plan in this economy, after you've been out of the workforce for several years, then you need to think again.

Don't you think that if you're STILL a SAHM in this economy that you're really not "into" the economy?

It's all cherries and cream!

Let OP dream on!

New SAHM poster here. I've received two unsolicited job offers in the past year from clients I used to work for. Seems people remember when you're damn good at what you do, and they find a way to get you back with them. Not all SAHMs are financially clueless. Some of us know we have very strong professional reputations, are in demand, and aren't willing to let an irrational risk adversity stop us from doi g what we believe is best for our families and ourselves. To each her own, but don't assume SAHMs are uninfirmed it lack judgment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private insurance/ Individual policy not thru an employer.

What if anyone has developed a "pre-existing" condition?

That's why I also voted for getting a job that would cover it: I do have a preexisting condition.

Isn't the new health reform act supposed to prevent denial of insurance due to preexisting conditions? When does that kick in? Just curious (I thought it was 2014, but not sure).

Anonymous wrote:Isn't Cobra expensive (like, you would have to pay for the portion your employer previously paid for?)

Yes. At most companies you have to pay the full premium, including the percentage your employer previously covered. It would have been
1400/mo for my family. Agree with pp that there is no magic solution - job with benefits or private insurance. The pre-existing condition thing is simply hit or miss. Some will deny you, some won't, depending on the underwriter's mood, the company's history with the condition etc. the system is scary and we need a better solution.

01:01, think very carefully before you give up your job. I, too, have an sn kid who requires hours of extremely expensive therapy a day and I gave up my job to make it work. But I regret it. My kid is doing great, butI wish I had worked something else out. I feel like a shell of myself. And I have little energy left to job hunt now.

Isn't Cobra expensive (like, you would have to pay for the portion your employer previously paid for?)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is EXTREMELY expensive to purchase private insurance and everything under the sun is considered a pre-existing condition that either up the cost of the insurance or get you rejected by the plan.

I'm recently divorced, and this is not true. I have several medical "pre-exisiting conditions" including an in situ melanoma and a thyroid condition that requires eventual removal of my thyroid. But I have chosen a great BCBS Carefirst HHO in DC for less than $400 a month in premiums. I'm also in my mid-forties.

I don't know why you would post untruths like this.

NP here, b hut my experience has been the opposite. Denied for any plans that cost less than 800/month (denied and offered the state high risk pool).

I literally stay up at night worrying about this. DS was recently diagnosed with autism, and I am leaving my job because we literally can't figure out how else to make his treatment schedule work with no family, etc, here to help and DH having a stressful job that requires lots of travel. I'm not going to lie, this prospect scares me so much I can't see straight.