jayjay is offline jayjay Post #1  October 4,2010, 11:52am
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...things seem to have gotten quiet around here.

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There is a lot of talk about requiring pre-existing (medical) conditions be covered under health insurance policies. What strikes me is that this is antithetical to what 'insurance' actually is. Insurance protects us against possible future losses....not those that have occurred in the past.

Would we expect our automotive insurance to cover car damage that occurred before we had the policy? Should we be able to buy life insurance for a family member after they have died and expect to be paid? How is it that medical insurance is coming to be expected to pay for conditions that occur prior to coverage?
Last edited by jayjay; October 4,2010 at 12:57pm.
 
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bigfincat is offline bigfincat Post #2  October 4,2010, 1:41pm
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It is one step in solving a major problem.

That problem being that I have insurance through my employer for 10 years. I go to the Dr. & they find a problem. I begin treatment.

Then I lose my job.... (or wish to leave my job). I cannot get coverage to continue that treatment.

If I don't lose my job I MUST stay there otherwise I lose coverage.

I know that much of healthcare reform is not the full solution as it doesn't cross the finish line.

I don't see any way that we could get from point A to the finish line in one step.

It is a step to get toward making insurance portable.
 
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newbie40something is offline newbie40something Post #3  October 4,2010, 2:19pm
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Some of the medical conditions are a little complex. Some persons are not aware of certain conditions until after insurance is obtained, but is still considered pre-existing.

One in particular is Autism. In my area, anyway, Autism is considered a pre-existing condition and not covered.

This may have changed recently. I'm not sure. I attended an event where they were trying to raise money and awareness to reverse this.

I'm sure there are others that are a little more complex than just an illness that already exists or an injury that has already occurred.

I hear what you're saying, though.
 
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notamaninpower is offline notamaninpower Post #4  October 4,2010, 2:28pm
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Please DO NOT compare your fellow citizen's LIVES, especially those with an affliction/disease/illness they had NO fault in bringing on themselves (save for 'choosing' the wrong parents/ancestors), nor which they could have avoided in ANY way, shape, or form, with an automobile.

Should we just let them die, as the 'compassionate conservatives', and R.R. would have happen? (It's funny how they seem to care sooooo much about life before it's even actually life, but once one DOES actually have life, it's A OK to let them suffer and perish.)
 
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newbie40something is offline newbie40something Post #5  October 4,2010, 2:31pm
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bigfincat wrote :
It is one step in solving a major problem.

That problem being that I have insurance through my employer for 10 years. I go to the Dr. & they find a problem. I begin treatment.

Then I lose my job.... (or wish to leave my job). I cannot get coverage to continue that treatment.

If I don't lose my job I MUST stay there otherwise I lose coverage.

I know that much of healthcare reform is not the full solution as it doesn't cross the finish line.

I don't see any way that we could get from point A to the finish line in one step.

It is a step to get toward making insurance portable.

This is a major issue. Take for example, the company I worked for recently. I had worked there for 13 years. Many of my co-workers did as well. Paid for medical insurance for years without need for major assistance from them for hospital bills, etc. One of my co-workers' husband found out he had a brain tumor. Had surgery. Insurance was great and paid for most of his procedures. He still needed more surgeries and care down the line.

The company decided to close it's doors in our neck of the woods and laid off about 350 people. I have to say the severance packages and benefits were great. I got to keep medical insurance for 6 months and then cobra kicked in.

This person had not been there as long as I was and did not receive as much. There was great stress and concern about what would happen.

I believe one of the significant factors in making the decision to include pre-existing conditions has to do with the economy and unemployment catastrophies that took place over the last few years.

Pretty complicated situation.
 
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Rand_011 is offline Rand_011 Post #6  October 4,2010, 3:36pm
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bigfincat wrote :
It is one step in solving a major problem.

That problem being that I have insurance through my employer for 10 years. I go to the Dr. & they find a problem. I begin treatment.

1) Then I lose my job.... (or wish to leave my job). I cannot get coverage to continue that treatment.

If I don't lose my job I MUST stay there otherwise I lose coverage.

I know that much of healthcare reform is not the full solution as it doesn't cross the finish line.

I don't see any way that we could get from point A to the finish line in one step.

It is a step to get toward making insurance portable.
With regards to number (1) above ... Not true, and hasn't been since 1996 with HIPAA ... Scenario above ...You lost your job ... You are now elligible for COBRA (extension of currently provided employer benefits for 18-36 months, depends upon the state and size of the company) ... If/when COBRA expires you are now elligible for HIPAA plans ... Basically guaranteed issue individual/family plans ... You can stay on a HIPAA plan as long as you like ...

HIPAA plans are not inexepensive though, they typically cost similaraly to your COBRA plan ...
 
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Rand_011 is offline Rand_011 Post #7  October 4,2010, 3:43pm
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notamaninpower wrote :
1) Please DO NOT compare your fellow citizen's LIVES, especially those with an affliction/disease/illness they had NO fault in bringing on themselves (save for 'choosing' the wrong parents/ancestors), nor which they could have avoided in ANY way, shape, or form, with an automobile.

Should we just let them die, as the 'compassionate conservatives', and R.R. would have happen? (It's funny how they seem to care sooooo much about life before it's even actually life, but once one DOES actually have life, it's A OK to let them suffer and perish.)
1) Sounds great as a sound bite ... But for many issues that arise, they are exasperated by what you choose to eat ... By your acitvity level ... By things you have nearly 100% control over ... Now I expect to hear as a counter point issues one has no control over, obviously I am not refering to those ...

Thankfully insurance companies can't raise rates and cancel for unhealthy lifestyles or large claims like auto/home companies can ... I will definitely agree that is one law the lawmakers got right ...
 
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neardc is offline neardc Post #8  October 4,2010, 4:13pm
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So, my friend who got laid off 3 months ago has now been turned down by the third health insurance company she has applied to (she has psoriasis that is treated by an expensive medication). She was even turned down by the company that insures her through COBRA! They won't even offer her a policy at a high rate; they simply refuse to insure her at all. She is covered by COBRA for now, with premiums costing @$1,000/month for just her. She cannot afford this (it pretty much consumes her entire unemployement check), so was hoping to find other coverage.

There is now a government high risk pool, but you first have to be without any insurance for six months before you can apply -- and that would mean going without medication she needs (she's also on Lipitor) as well as taking the risks that any of us takes if we go without coverage.

After health care reform is fully implemented, people in her situation can no longer be refused insurance (that's already true for children, but won't be true for adults for several more years).

Rand - If you have any suggestions for some way for her to find affordable coverage, I will certainly pass that information along to her.
 
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legend29 is offline legend29 Post #9  October 4,2010, 4:41pm
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jayjay wrote :
There is a lot of talk about requiring pre-existing (medical) conditions be covered under health insurance policies. What strikes me is that this is antithetical to what 'insurance' actually is. Insurance protects us against possible future losses....not those that have occurred in the past.

Would we expect our automotive insurance to cover car damage that occurred before we had the policy? Should we be able to buy life insurance for a family member after they have died and expect to be paid? How is it that medical insurance is coming to be expected to pay for conditions that occur prior to coverage?
All due respect JJ...but until you or a loved one has to deal with a catastrophic illness, the topic of your OP may confound and confuse you.

I have full medical insurance through my job, but I do feel for those folks that have jobs that do not provide medical insurance.

Those of us that have medical insurance through employment have to be careful to not ostracize and demonize those folks not as fortunate as us.

Do I want Federal Health Care?...nope....but I also don't want a society of 'haves' and haves-nots"...no easy answer..I guess..

Great thread...definitely 'food for thought'....
 
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jayjay is offline jayjay Post #10  October 4,2010, 6:30pm
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...things seem to have gotten quiet around here.

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My main point here isn't whether people who don't have health insurance should have their healthcare costs paid for somehow. My point is.....pretty much by definition that is not 'insurance'.
 
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