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Family Medical Insurance Options in California?

I have been working with an insurance broker to try and reduce our $1,500 COBRA health insurance premium to something more manageable. I have just learned that due to our 6-month old's medical condition, namely Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) we are not entitled to family health insurance for my son. I have written more about this on our blog: http://wecansurvivethiseconomy.com/ We can get insurance for the rest of us but that leaves my son with nothing which is obviously not an option. So instead of moving to a more affordable plan costing around $500 per month we have to stick with COBRA until this small hole (currently around 1-2 mm) closes. Does anyone know of any other options?

Public Comments

1. Check with your state children's health insurance program - depending on what state you are in, it's possible that you could get welfare health insurance for this child, and exclude them under the family policy you're looking for. But keep in mind, a good low/no deductible family health policy, without maternity benefits, is going to run $1200 a month. A high deductible plan might work, also. Or, maybe you can switch the cobra to just that infant, and do the family plan for everyone else. A family plan at $500 a month, that's going to have a massive deductible on it, right, like $5,000. What does your AGENT suggest?
2. The employee and the child could stay on COBRA and the rest of the family move off. This may or may not make sense depending on what the premiums are.
3. Try the California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Program. You can find out more about it here. http://myinsurancequotes.net/california-health-insurance-quotes.html. For quotes on regular individual and family medical insurance, fill out a form here. http://www.myinsurancequotes.net. Make sure you have exhausted all of your options for the rest of the family. Sincerely, Jared B. http://www.utahinsurance.com http://www.healthinsuranceinutah.com
4. Leave your son on Cobra and put everyone else on the individual policy. But start thinking about what you are going to do when you son's cobra 18 month limit expires. I know California has a high risk pool. And if you are out of work with little income, look at CHIPS. Even when the small hole closes, I doubt you will be able to get individual coverage on him. And get a new broker. One who cares about his clients and not his commissions.