Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Cobra? Date:   4/25/2016 7:35:56 PM

I have no idea whether it is this way in AL, but in VA, there was something called COBRA that carried previously covered people who lost their job for 90 days after they left their jobs.  I can't remember all the details - whether the employer paid it, or if the employee bought it as an intereim policy.  I wonder if this is why Lifer didn't stop having coverage between jobs. 

It is true that the ER has to treat anyone that shows up, but if admittance is required they do not have to admit an uninsured person.  I remember there were reports of hospitals not accepting ER patients without insurance and diverting them to another hospital. 

I thought one of the key provisions of the ACA was that people could not be turned down for pre-existing conditions.  In the situation Lifer is describing, he was able to prove that an insurance company had covered him before with the same condition and it was not a new illness, and he were returning to the insurance he originally had.  From what I understand about what he is saying, they turned him down initially and he was able to win an appeal. 

Copperline is correct  - bankruptsy most often occur do to medical bills that went above and beyond their medical insurance.  Despite what people think, it is most mostly people who have lived above their means, but have tried to do that right thing only to be overwhelmed by medical bills after a major illness (I believe this becasue my BIL, was an attornery specializing in bankrupsty.  He said it was heartbreaking to watch people going through the worst thing in their lives.)