I signed up for COBRA coverage and when I was elligible for enrollment in a new group policy I declined because I had already met my annual deductible on the COBRA policy and had already started chemo and radiation. I was diagnosed in July. In November the COBRA policy was changed from $1 million lifetime max to $250,000 which by the way, I had already reached. I was advised by the insurance company in late March that I had exceeded my lifetime max. The new company that was carrying me on self funded short term disability would not let me sign up for their group policy because I had to be "at work" in order to sign up. The new company called me Friday last week to tell me I would receive my last short term disability check today because they had sold to another company. The long term disability insurance I have been paying for has a 6 month waiting period and because I tried to get back to work October and November last year, I am 15 weeks from elligibility and COBRA will not cover this policy. Talk about feeling exposed right now. I have just passed my 6 month PET scan but if the cancer comes back I will need a neck dissection and wonder how I will pay for this. The state of Texas can put me on their risk pool plan and I only need about $700 per month with no income right now other than the $35k my wife makes. I was in a $110k job. What great news, huh?

Ed