The Peanut Gallerie

The situation:

I found out I was pregnant a week before I got laid off. 

Which led to...

No more insurance through work.

Which led to... 

Finding outside insurance or paying over $300/month for Cobra.

Which led to...

Discovering that pregnancy is a "pre-existing" condition (and that insurance companies, like Kaiser, believe you are unholy while pregnant, but would gladly offer you coverage when you are done with that mess.)

Which led to...

Researching what insurance will actually cover someone during pregnancy (turns out, no one).

Which led to...

The 5th dimension of hell, or what the state calls... the AIM Program (Access for Infants and Mothers)

This is where my story actually begins.

Since I had no other choice and knew I needed coverage, I started my research on different state programs. It seems I made too much money to apply for MediCal and just barely slid under the radar to apply for AIM. (I made just enough to pay the fullest amount.)  AIM offered two health plan options in Sacramento county (Healthnet or Bluecross). Having already experienced the headache of Bluecross, I chose Healthnet. Plus, my current doctor  in Sacramento accepted Healthnet AIM. 

At this time, Sarrah wonderfully took a job in Menlo Park and we moved to Santa Clara County. This was probably my second wrench. Switching counties seemed like an easy enough process. Since AIM offered the exact same two health plans in Santa Clara County as they did in Sacramento County, I should have no problem with the transition. 

Unfortunately, Healthnet decided to pull out of Santa Clara County after January 2009. They informed me in December of 2008. When I called AIM to discuss the cancellation, they said that it was false information because they haven't received a memo about it. 

Hm.

Finally by January 2009, AIM had received their "memo" and believed me.

Here's where the tricky part comes in... AIM denied my appeal to switch to Bluecross because "you are only able to switch health plans if the health plan you have is no longer provided in that area". 

Hmm.

Healthnet denied my claim to provide me with insurance in Santa Clara County because I'm not in my third trimester.

Hmmm. 

It gets better. When I call AIM to discuss the matter, they constantly repeat that Healthnet has to cover me because they got a memo on it (what is with this memo thing?). I respond that, in theory, it sounds like a great idea. When I call Healthnet to inform them about AIM's "memo", they say that they no longer provide service in that area, so that doesn't make sense.

I attempted option B, a conference call. I called Healthnet to call AIM on a three way call to get this settled. I spent over an hour on the phone so that they may come to the conclusion that they do not agree.

Hmmmm.

Option C, my mother (who insisted to let her give it a try). She can handle anything. (Even the admissions office at school was afraid of her.) So, she called AIM, who gave her the same response. She had a headache at the end of the call. (It made me smile to know that someone actually understood what I was going through.)

It is now February 2009. I am 6 months pregnant. I am without insurance. I thank God for the smooth pregnancy and pray for a prompt ending to this madness.