Happy Birthday to me. My health insurance was raised to over $700 a month. I applied for different insurance and was turned down for pre-existing conditions. So what now, drop insurance and pay out of pocket, hoping that nothing serious enough happens so that I have to give up my house? Gradually go broke? Fuck.
None of the conditions are serious, but I do have a fair amount of prescriptions. If I had gone through life with undiagnosed sleep-apnea, and put myself at risk of more serious thngs, then I’d pay less now event though I was really at more risk. Fuck this system.
Have you called local insurance agents or just tried going directly to health insurance dealers?
Start calling your local insurance agents, the same ones who have car and house insurance. If they can’t help you with traditional insurance ask about temporary insurance. It’s usually just a major medical policy but it’s not that expensive either. It’s usually for 6 months and you can renew one time. Then you can move on to a different temp. insurance company.
The OP has a pre-existing condition. In most cases, that means nobody will sell him a policy.
I’m in the same boat. Had insurance, developed manageable-but-chronic disease, now I’m uninsurable. Luckily my current policy is still moderately affordable (though expensive - next to my mortgage it’s my largest bill every month). Hopefully the 2013 reforms will make it so me and the OP can shop around.
Have you tried to use the same company but ask for a higher deductible or only hospital/surgical coverage? If that is available it will significantly lower your premium.
I don’t know what his condition is but some insurances will cover you, just not the pre-existing condition. I have never been turned down for pre -exisitng conditions but they’ve also never been covered.
Every state has a state sponsored pool for people who were turned down for insurance elsewhere. My daughter was on that for a while. It’s not a very good option and may be expensive, but look into it.
I agree with be sure to go through an educated agent. They will know what all the options are.
I have to say I am pretty thankful that I don’t pay anywhere near that for a family of five. Ours is like $400 a month, with $15 doctor copays, $4 generic prescription copays, 90/10 coverage, etc.
That sucks, DanBlather, and it really isnt fair. People with pre-existing conditions shouldn’t get swept under the rug or forced to bankrupt themselves just to be able to afford to go to the damn doctor or get the prescriptions they need. I hope that changes, and soon.
Check places like Walmart $4 prescriptions (PDF LINK). If you’re low income, you can try a place like Needy Meds for free or cheap drugs. Talk to a doctor about your options. If this happened a few months ago and you’re photogenic, maybe they could’ve used you for a healthcare bill propaganda piece… Also, would you be in this situation indefinitely, or do you have a window of potential no-insurance?
Even if you are insured, this is worth doing. With my insurance co-pay, I paid $15 for a 30-day supply of any prescription medicine I got, and could not get anything but a 30-day supply at a time. Giant Eagle (the local grocery store) had a lot of the same medicines at $10 for a 90-day supply of generics. I save $140 out of pocket per prescription per year and get the convenience of a 90-day supply that my insurance didn’t let me have for some reason.
Given the population of this message board, I am astounded by the number of posters who’ve been fucked by the health care system in the US. Why you guys aren’t rioting in the streets, I’ll never know.
I pay nearly 950 per month. Well more really since my wife has a condition which qualifies us for extra help. The exrtra help only cost another $160 per month. With that extra help in place my primary insurance never pays any bill until its headed to collections. I’ve completely given up on life, I’ll never have another new car, a house, my hobbies are paying medical bills.
Can insurance companies really increase the premium however much they like, whenever they like? Why would anyone accept a deal like that? If they think you’re costing them money, can’t they just increase your premium to $1 million a month and get rid of you once and for all? :dubious:
Anyway, SP2263’s answer looks like a good one.
I’m sure you could get insurance even with pre-existing conditions, but you might end up paying more than you do now.
