I am trying to buy Health Insurance but am finding it impossible. I am self-employed (software developer). While officially I live in Nevada (US), I have not been there in almost two years. During this time I have been in the Republic of Georgia, the Czech Republic, Australia and New Zealand. In Georgia I has insurance through a Georgian insurance company.
My problem is that I had a benign tumor removed about 2 1/2 years ago (I was insured though my wifes company in the US at the time). This tumor was related to my Neurofibromatosis (NF1) which is a genentic disorder and the insurance companies have said this disqualifies me. “I am uninsuranble” they claim.
My case of NF1 has never been officially diagnosed with tests, but doctors have told me this is what I have. it has not afected me other than a few benign growths and the one I had removed was for mostly cosmetic reasons.
Sure. Here in Maryland, the state administers a high risk insurance pool. It’s guaranteed issue for people turned down for medical reasons by a traditional insurance company. You might want to see if your state has something similar.
Most companies have “Open enrollment” periods, the most common months for this are June and December, where they will enroll prople reguardless of medical history. Be warned however, that you will usually pay much higher rates during open enrollment.
Finally, I just checked the underwriting guidlines for my company ( the NASE ). Neurofibromatosis, single incidence, operated and recovered, is listed as standard coverage, which means that it will not be a cause for decline. Drop me an email if you want and I’ll see about getting you in touch with a rep in your state ( if it’s Maryland, I can help you myself ).
You can’t be denied enrollment into an employer’s health plan if you take it ASAP after becoming an employee, but not sure if all pre-existing condition rules are the same across the country. If you really need it, might be worth becoming a W-2 employee again.
Are you still married? And does your wife still have an employer-sponsored group health plan available to her? If so, you can join during the open-enrollment period no matter what your pre-existing conditions are. They won’t even come up. The open-enrollment period is one month during the year when employees who previously declined coverage can join back into the plan and/or when they can add qualified family members who previously were not part of the plan. (If the employee has a change in status - e.g., someone gets married - she can add on her new husband at any time, not just during the open-enrollment period. Same with having a child.)
Will open enrollment work with a non-employer sponsored plan? As I said, I am self employed and my wife does not work (since we don’t spend much time in the US with my work).
Open Enrollment is available for individual plans, usually 2 times a year. As I noted above, however, it’s going to be more money for less coverage, Based upon what you’ve said, we’d take you, likely there are other companies that would too. If you can get through underwriting, that’s always a better bet.