Major Insurance Problem

So, my Mom just called me and said I was dropped from her insurance due to my age, even despite the fact that I'm a full time law student. The two options they gave her were to try to get on FH's insurance or to get something called 'healthy new york' insurance.

First, does anyone have this healthy new york insurance? Can you tell me more about it?

Second, if I go on FH's insurance - what do I need to prove a domestic partnership? Also, I know it will probably vary from carrier to carrier, but is there a roundabout number in terms of how much will come out of FH's paycheck to add me to his insurance?

I'm really depressed about this, it's just such a pain in the a**.

UPDATE: It all worked out - FH added me to his insurance today at work. His HR and the insurance co. accepted our affidavit of Domestic Partnership. I also spoke to a lawyer regarding tax status. The fact that my parents claimed me as a dependent last year is not a bar to Domestic Partnership for Health Ins. purposes. And, in any event, my parents cannot claim me this year because I'm turning 24 and under the Internal Revenue Code, if your kid turns 24 at any point in a calendar year, you cannot claim them as dependent for that year or any year after, even if they're a full time student and even if the were 23 for almost the entire year (I'm a November baby). FH will still not claim me as a dependent, because I don't meet the definition of dependent as far as the IRS is concerned, so I'm on my own on that one!

So - we're good to go! YAY!

Go to www.ins.state.ny.us
Click on heathy ny
it's new york state's health insurance when you're making under a certain income level based on household status. They are several different insurance companie that offer it...listed on website.

Healthy NY is income based, so it may or may not be an issue.

To prove domestic partnership, for some insurance companies, you need six months' worth of proof to show you share an address and/or utility bills. My SIL only had to sign a letter stating she would drop the insurance if her and my brother ever stopped living together, and that was it.

Good luck (I know how much it stinks to be without insurance)

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Posted by mrsdraskin2009

Healthy NY is income based, so it may or may not be an issue.

To prove domestic partnership, for some insurance companies, you need six months' worth of proof to show you share an address and/or utility bills. My SIL only had to sign a letter stating she would drop the insurance if her and my brother ever stopped living together, and that was it.

Good luck (I know how much it stinks to be without insurance)

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Thanks everyone! Yeah there is no way I can get Healthy NY based on income, unless somehow I went under my own income and acted like I was not a tax dependent of my parents.

Luckily FH's company does all their benefits online, so we were just able to add me - medical, dental and vision for $50 per paycheck.

So, on a side note, I just had a mini freak out when I realized that I'm FH's domestic partner. I can't believe we're going to be married! I actually shed a tear of excitement/nervousness, but I'm also PMS-ing so maybe I'm just being a loser.

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Posted by nlghttrain

I used healthy ny for several years, I thought they were amazing, in fact i liked being on that better than the insurance i have through work now. I wish i could go back on it. If you are eligible i would definatly reccomend it.

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Were you a dependent of your parents? That's my only problem - they still claim me as a dependent for tax purposes, so I would assume that my eligibility would be based on their income (my dad is an attorney and my mom is a nurse, so I assume that would be too much income to qualify).

What was better about the NY Health?

i had healthy ny and it is a good plan and it also gives you rx's but the only thing is you have to pay out of pocket and that can be n e where from 200-500 dollars a month. when i had it with vytra i paid 237 a mth and that was in 05.
HTH

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Posted by oldladybride

I hope this doesn't sound too stupid but when I asked my insurance about adding fh as domestic partner they said NO - - that's only for same sex couples cause they can't marry! Is there a definition of domestic partner online where you enrolled? My company is cheapskates so I wouldn't be surprised that they's bew the only ones to do that but you might want to double check.

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No, there are two separate forms online - same sex domestic and opposite sex domestic. We filled out opposite sex and it says al we have to do is sign an affidavit saying we are in a committed long term relationship, plan on being that way for a long time, will notify them if we're not anymore, and that we live together. FH works for a major ad agency in the city though, if you work for a small company maybe they just don't want to give more than they have to or something.

I could get it thru the American Bar Association if I pay out of pocket, but for $50 per paycheck FH can get me medical, dental and ocular (which is great because I wear contacts and glasses). FH has been walking around our house all yesterday and this morning singing 'I'm your healthcare sugar daddy.'

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Posted by Jess125483

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Posted by nlghttrain

I used healthy ny for several years, I thought they were amazing, in fact i liked being on that better than the insurance i have through work now. I wish i could go back on it. If you are eligible i would definatly reccomend it.

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Were you a dependent of your parents? That's my only problem - they still claim me as a dependent for tax purposes, so I would assume that my eligibility would be based on their income (my dad is an attorney and my mom is a nurse, so I assume that would be too much income to qualify).

What was better about the NY Health?

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Where do you live? With your parents or with your FH? If you live with your FH, I don't see how your parents can claim you as a tax dependent. If you're not living with your FH, you'll have a hard time proving a domestic partnership. I also don't think you'll be able to claim domestic partnership if someone else is claiming you as a dependent.

Either way, it doesn't matter - Even if they claim you as a dependant, you should be eligible for healthy NY. Your status as a dependent for tax purposes does not impute your parents' income to you for purposes of this health insurance.

Your other option is to get health insurance through your school. It's not the best health insurance in the world, but it covers basic care and emergency visits. It's also very inexpensive. I'd probably look into this first. This is what I did when I was in law school and maxed out on my parents' health insurance when I turned 25.

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Posted by Kara and Todd

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Posted by Jess125483

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Posted by nlghttrain

I used healthy ny for several years, I thought they were amazing, in fact i liked being on that better than the insurance i have through work now. I wish i could go back on it. If you are eligible i would definatly reccomend it.

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Were you a dependent of your parents? That's my only problem - they still claim me as a dependent for tax purposes, so I would assume that my eligibility would be based on their income (my dad is an attorney and my mom is a nurse, so I assume that would be too much income to qualify).

What was better about the NY Health?

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Where do you live? With your parents or with your FH? If you live with your FH, I don't see how your parents can claim you as a tax dependent. If you're not living with your FH, you'll have a hard time proving a domestic partnership. I also don't think you'll be able to claim domestic partnership if someone else is claiming you as a dependent.

Either way, it doesn't matter - Even if they claim you as a dependant, you should be eligible for healthy NY. Your status as a dependent for tax purposes does not impute your parents' income to you for purposes of this health insurance.

Your other option is to get health insurance through your school. It's not the best health insurance in the world, but it covers basic care and emergency visits. It's also very inexpensive. I'd probably look into this first. This is what I did when I was in law school and maxed out on my parents' health insurance when I turned 25.

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According to the health insurance forms, I do not need to be FH's tax dependent in order for us to qualify as domestic partners. They specifically address that. But, in reporting household income for Healthy NY, I would assume that I'd report my parents income or FH's income, and in either case, because Healthy NY is income based, it would be too much out of pocket to justify it.

For whatever reason, my law school's health insurance covers absolutely nothing. A friend has it, and recently had an ear infection and this was apparently not covered by the insurance.

ETA: I do live with FH. However, my parents are and will continuing paying for my basic survival (my car payment, medical copays, school related expenses, etc.) until we are married (which coincides with my graduation from law school).