# Medical Issues Not to Treat **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 1, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810 "2010-08-01T18:43:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/21 "2010-08-02T03:35:14Z")
My parents were nearly turned down for insurance when I was a kid after my mouth erupted with sores and some idiot misspelled “canker” on my charts. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/22 "2010-08-02T03:40:46Z")
In fairness, the insurance rep probably thought you had “cankle sores” and I mean, a kid with cankle sores. . . that’s expensive to fix. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/23 "2010-08-02T04:56:31Z")
> [@Mr\_Smashy](#): > > > [@Lobohan](#): > > > > This is evidence you don’t know what you’re talking about. There is no way that the 'Pubbies will have the votes to overcome a presidential veto. As I recall, Bricker doesn’t see a reason to have the law declared illegal, and he knows way more about law than you do. > > > > So what reason do you have to think the law will be repealed, aside from you being a silly stupid fuck? > > If you have something to add, go to that [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=571717) and do it there, so as not to threadjack. Else, shush, adults talking here. Sorry retard. I’m asking because you made a stupid claim here. If you’re too much of a coward to stand by it… well I probably wouldn’t be surprised. > [@](#): > > PS Or go do another epic fail pit thread about me, where pretty much every one _from your side of the aisle_ ridiculed you and begged you to just go away from these boards, forever if possible. You have a very selective view of reality. Stand by your comments you simpering coward. > [@](#): > > PPS a veto has nothing to do with this, we were talking about the constitutionality of it…you might want to proofread your posts before you click ‘submit’, else people will get the wrong idea about you and think you’re an idiot. I was asking you to clarify. If you’re too stupid to post a link to what you’re talking about the onus on you is to explain yourself. So please, try to understand the issues. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/24 "2010-08-02T09:25:22Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Nope, I was declined because I had gone to the doctor once in the last year. Why did I go to the doctor, you ask? To get my annual papsmear- my cancer screening. I- a healthy 24 year old- was turned down for health insurance because I was responsible and proactive in my health by getting a cancer screening. Nothing came up weird during the screening- everything was a-ok, but I was declined. That’s insane. For one thing, I’ve never had a gyno who would prescribe contraceptives without doing a Pap first. ---
**Author:** ![Lilacs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lilacs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lilacs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/25 "2010-08-02T11:47:39Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > We have a family business, but we were just going to pay for an individual plan for me. Once I was turned down, though, we just decided to do a corporate plan. Weirdly, they had no issue insuring me under a corporate policy :rolleyes:. When I worked for an evil health insurance company, small businesses couldn’t be denied insurance. It was against Federal Law. However, they could jack up your prices so high you would reject the insurance company’s offer. It’s stupid, but there you go. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/26 "2010-08-02T13:33:21Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I- a healthy 24 year old- was turned down for health insurance because I was responsible and proactive in my health by getting a cancer screening. Nothing came up weird during the screening- everything was a-ok, but I was declined. > > Whereas, if some dumb 45 year old woman applies who has gone 10 years without a mammogram or cancer screening, she wont get rejected. But hey, I’m more of a health risk than that lady, what with my cancer screenings and health checks. Tests and preventative care cost them money right now. Cancer would cost a lot more later, but because of the expected time you’ll be with any one insurer, it’ll likely be some other company’s problem. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/27 "2010-08-02T14:29:08Z")
> [@vd](#): > > Tests and preventative care cost them money right now. Cancer would cost a lot more later, but because of the expected time you’ll be with any one insurer, it’ll likely be some other company’s problem. It’s perverse incentives like this that make health care reform so necessary. For some reason opponents of HCR can’t understand that health insurance isn’t like selling widgets. Also, best thread title / username combo, ever. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/28 "2010-08-02T15:04:16Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Also, best thread title / username combo, ever. ??? ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/29 "2010-08-02T15:13:37Z")
> [@DanBlather](#): > > > [@Lobohan](#): > > > > Also, best thread title / username combo, ever. > > ??? Medical Issues Not to Treat and “VD”. Sorry, not your (the OP’s) username. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/30 "2010-08-02T16:40:38Z")
> [@Lilacs](#): > > When I worked for an evil health insurance company, small businesses couldn’t be denied insurance. It was against Federal Law. However, they could jack up your prices so high you would reject the insurance company’s offer. > > It’s stupid, but there you go. Funny enough, the price quoted for my individual plan was higher than (my portion of) the corporate plan. Maybe this is because the other person on the plan is much older than me and is taking up the bulk of the cost-- but yeah, my part- at least- is cheaper. Go figure. But interesting to know that they can’t be denied. > [@vd](#): > > Tests and preventative care cost them money right now. Cancer would cost a lot more later, but because of the expected time you’ll be with any one insurer, it’ll likely be some other company’s problem. You’re right- it absolutely makes more sense to insure the unknown person- the person who might have a cancerous cervix right now or might not, but there’s no telling because she hasn’t gotten checked— over the proven healthy young woman. Why didn’t I see it that way? ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810/31 "2010-08-02T18:48:18Z")
> [@sleeping](#): > > Thanks . . . but I’ve done all that. I’ll be saving money on the only two medications that are expensive, but I can’t get from Canada. I’m already getting generics wherever possible, and the cheaper ones cost me less than the copays would be. It would be even cheaper overall if I didn’t get prescription coverage at all . . . except that it can be hard to get later on if you don’t get it at 65. Plus, I don’t know what meds I’ll need in the future, and it’s better to have the insurance proactively. > > Also, with the Medicare Part D Formulary . . . When I input all of my meds the plans are very expensive. So I eliminated the ones I’ll continue to pay for on my own, and only input the two I’d be covered for. I got very less expensive results. Why should they have to know about the meds they’re not paying for? Are you looking at stand-alone Part D plans only or are you also considering Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage? And is it the monthly premium you’re having trouble with, the copayments or both? Some of the MA plans actually have a $0 monthly premium and include creditable drug coverage. Also, are you looking for plans that have coverage in the donut hole or not? Sometimes if you look for plans with coverage in the donut hole, you might shoot yourself in the foot - it’s occasionally cheaper annually to take a harder out-of-pocket hit if you take really expensive drugs, then blow through the donut hole into catastrophic coverage. Or, if you’re taking medications from a chronic condition, you might be able to find a special needs plan (SNP) in your area that covers primarily people with conditions like yours and might have more reasonable copays on drugs you take. One last thing - you should be eligible for a 7% discount on your generics and a 50% discount on your brands if you do fall into the donut hole next year. Sorry for the babbling - I create Medicare services for a living and serve as a healthcare reform SME. I’ll stop there, though - I’m not trying to be a schil. And re the OP - that sucks. I also couldn’t get coverage to save my life were I in the open market. An inconvenient seizure disorder makes me ineligible. Also, if you haven’t checked out the state-run high-risk insurance pools that just became available, well… I’m not sure I’d recommend it. The idea is to bring costs for high-risk individuals down to be more “in line” with what the general consumer pays. Unfortunately, even the general consumer pays out the yin yang for insurance, so any decent coverage is ungodly expensive. You can check out [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) if you’re interested. It gives you a somewhat decent list of the resources in your area, but it ain’t great, many of the places are tapped out of federal funds or are still awaiting their grants and not all the places are still open. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-issues-not-to-treat/548810.md?page=1)