Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Why do health insurance companies deny life ins coverage to people who have a history of malignant melanoma's?

I was just denied life insurance coverage due to a health history of malignant melanoma = 10 years ago, 2 squamous cell carcinoma's = 5 years ago, and 3 displastic nevi removed 6 months ago by my dermatologist. I get skin exams whenever I see anything suspicious. I take all the necessary precasions. I am almost 45 years old; fair complected, and a female.
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Well, there are two answers. You're looking for standard rates. Once you have a malignant melanoma, you no longer QUALIFY for standard rates - the odds are just MUCH higher that you won't live as long as someone who hasn't had any melanoma. The second answer is, if price is no object, you CAN buy life insurance. You need to talk to a high risk life agent in your area. You're just going to pay through the nose for it - maybe even close to payout value.
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Is there health insurance available for someone whose company does not offer its employees health insurance?

My son works for a construction company that is family owned & does not offer health insurance to its employees. Is there a group he can join to obtain some type of coverage?
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He can start calling different insurance companies for quotes. They offer insurance to individuals.
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What questions do I need to ask when buying health insurance?

I am 36, female. For those of you who have experience on health insurance. What items do I need to make sure covered? And any conditions I need to check? Thank you!
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You need to talk to an insurance agent directly for this. If you go online and get quotes, you will not know if the policy you buy is right for you. An agent will ask you questions regarding your health, types of treatment, any problems finding a specific policy for your needs and what costs you can afford to spend. Also if you have problems later with filing claims or other questions, you can call the agent for advice. good luck
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Can a health insurance company deny emergency medical coverage based on the final diagnosis?

I went to the emergency room for symptoms suggesting a life-threatening illness. It turned out I did not have a life-threatening illness and the ER doctor diagnosed something much less severe. However, now my health insurance company is refusing to pay for the emergency room fee based on that diagnosis. This seems unethical to me. My symptoms indicated an emergency, so I went to the hospital. Just because it turned out I didn't actually have a condition requiring emergency medical attention, doesn't mean my health insurance company has the right to deny me coverage.
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Most state insurance laws use "prudent layperson" criteria. Meaning...if a "prudent layperson" (i.e. - a reasonable ordinary citizen) would consider the circumstances as an emergency, then the insurance company should process the claim as an emergency. By the way...hospital claims specify the diagnosis you presented to the ER with, in addition to your final diagnosis. So, the insurance company should be aware of the symptoms you presented to the ER with, in addition to your final diagnosis. Its hard to say what happened in your situation, without knowing what symptoms you had that made you feel like it was an emergency. But you should at least be able to appeal with an explanation of why you felt it was necessary to seek emergency care. But insurance companies can have tiered benefits ("emergency" use of the ER, and "non-emergency" use of the ER...based on whether or not a reasonable person would consider your situation an emergency). You can either have a reduced benefit for non-emergency situations, or no benefit at all.
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As far as health insurance is it best to get the highest or lowest deductible.?

I trying to apply for health insurance but i can't find anybody that covers everything as far as dental and life insurance for a reasonable price.I also want to know if it's best to get the highes deuctible or the lowest ar far as health insurance.And does anybody know any good providers?
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Apply for health care insurance separately from dental insurance to get the best deal. There is no such thing as a combination health insurance/life insurance to my knowledge. If you are young and healthy, choose the high deductible plan because your premiums will be much less. Meanwhile, it's very important that you take the savings from the lower premiums and set these aside in a savings account just in case you need to pay the deductible. Check into a Health Savings Account (HSA). This is a tax-advantated savings account that you can use to pay the deductible. You must have a tax-qualified high deductible health care plan in order to have the HSA. Your contributions to the Health Savings Account give you a tax deduction, and your earnings are tax-free. You can also use the HSA to cover dental expenses, whether you eventually get dental insurance or not. If you are young and healthy and you take good care of your teeth, you may be better off just using the HSA to pay for your dental. However, one benefit of having dental insurance is that the insurance company negotiates a lower price with the dentist, and that will save you money. Regarding life insurance, apply with a highly rated company (you want them to be around for awhile) such as Metropolitan or New York Life. Choose "term" insurance for the lowest rates. The agent may try to convince you to choose whole life or universal life, which is just life insurance combined with an investment. If you have extra money to invest, keep that separate from your life insurance, and just choose term life insurance. Go for the longest term you can get - if you're young, that should be at least 20 or 30 years. Otherwise, you'll have to renew your term at a higher age, and your premiums will be rated to your age at that time.
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Why should major corporations have the burden of supplying health insurance in America?

They don't need this extremely expensive burden in other countries and shouldn't have to provide it in America. Isn't it time to make America more competitive with other countries by not expecting companies to provide money toward health insurance benefits?
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Those other countries that don't have expensive employer based health plans usually have universal health insurance. Which way do you want it?
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Is there any health insurance out there that covers infertility?

My health insurance from my last job is about to run out so I need to get my own independent health insurance now. Im looking for a policy that covers infertility. I will need infertility services such as IUIs and invitro and testing of course. My current insurance don't cover infertility at all.I cannot afford all the expenses out of pocket.
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healthplans.bebto.com - here is my health insurance plan. As I remember they can provide such a service.
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Where can I get family health insurance in Alabama?

I will be quitting my job soon to be a stay at home mom, thus losing my medical insurance. My husband's insurance through his company is very expensive due to it being so small (only 20 or so people in the company). I will need to find a health insurance plan for my family, but am having a hard time finding any plans that have good coverage and don't have a large premium amount. Does anyone know of a good health insurance company I should look at? Please keep in mind I live in Alabama....a lot of the insurance companies online only apply to certain states. Thanks a bunch.
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I can't imagine it's going to be cheaper on your own. You need to go to a local, independent agent, and ask for quotes. They'll have the ones with providers in your area. If you have no preexisting conditions, and you're around 30, it's GOING to cost YOU, $250 a month, your HUSBAND $250 a month, and the KIDS, $200 a month EACH. Is that cheaper than your husband's plan? If you have preexisting conditions, they will be excluded, OR, you might flat out be declined. that's JUST what health insurance costs. Or, you sacrifice coverage, OR, you take a $5,000 deductible before the insurance kids in, OR, you sign up for a health discount plan where no one takes the plans, OR you get scammed from over the internet. You CAN'T buy a brand new cadillac for $10, you CAN'T get family health insurance with comprehensive coverage for $120 a month, except through an employer.
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How is mandating capitalism in health insurance a bad thing?

Let me see if I understand this... The health care bill requires the health insurance companies to offer their products to 33 million new customers, and requires that people purchase insurance from private, for-profit companies, which in turn adds to their profits. Isn't that the essence of the "free market"? Isn't that "capitalism"? Conservatives are complaining, why???
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They're complaining because it was passed by Democrats. Conservatives are always fast to tell you that US hospitals cannot turn away someone based on their ability to pay and that they have to treat you. They don't complain about this. But, at the same time they absolutely abhor the idea of people being given something for nothing. The reforms basically say that since a person can't be turned away, they need to have insurance to pay for it. It's their responsibility to pay for the coverage that they can't be denied.
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How an health insurance company works and which departments are present in a Health insurance company ?

and i also want to know the internal procedure goes in health insurance company after a customer takes a policy ?
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It's not a mystery. The departments are reflections of their actions, just like any other company. Insurance companies try to attract customers, so they have a marketing department. Insurance companies collect premiums and pay out claims. So they have a billing department and a claims department. They have to set premiums so they have an actuarial department. They have to service their business so they have a Customer Service department. They have to service their producers so they have a Producer Services department. It's all pretty intuitive.
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Can a health insurance company deny emergency medical coverage based on the final diagnosis?

I went to the emergency room for symptoms suggesting a life-threatening illness. It turned out I did not have a life-threatening illness and the ER doctor diagnosed something much less severe. However, now my health insurance company is refusing to pay for the emergency room fee based on that diagnosis. This seems unethical to me. My symptoms indicated an emergency, so I went to the hospital. Just because it turned out I didn't actually have a condition requiring emergency medical attention, doesn't mean my health insurance company has the right to deny me coverage.
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Have an appeal sent with a copy of the ER report. (Either the hospital can submit it as a provider appeal, or you can send it in.) Insurance companies use something called "prudent layperson" criteria for ER visits. What that means is...if the average person on the street would have felt the situation was a true medical emergency, then the insurance company will consider it a medical emergency. When they review the ER report, they'll see documentation of the symptoms you presented with, what comments/concerns you expressed to the medical staff, etc. If the medical records indicate you were in distress and that your symptoms could have been a true emergency, you'll likely win the appeal.
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Cannot get health insurance through company I work for. What is a good provider for good coverage and price??

I need to get health insurance at a decent monthly cost and good coverage. I cannot find an isurance provider that will cover me with a pre-existing condition (tubes in ears, ENT) at a resonable cost and decent co-pays on visits and scripts. Any recommendations??
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You can forget about finding coverage your pre-existing conditions (at least for the first year, possibly two.) I'm unaware of ANY company that covers pre-existing conditions unless you meet the Federal portability standards under HIPAA (you can look those up on the Dept. of Labor web site link below.) So, that's simply not going to happen. You'll be lucky if you find a company that will write you without putting a condition-specific exclusion (meaning they would cover you for anything new that comes up, but nothing related to your pre-existing conditions -- ever.) It would be easier to make recommendations if you'd list your location, since there are different insurance companies available in different places and even the same company may offer wildly different plans (with vastly different prices) depending on the geography involved. Good luck!
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My european health insurance card is expired, how much will it cost to see a doctor in france?

Im an irish au pair living in Marseille. My european health insurance card expired two weeks ago. My new one isnt going to arrive for another week but I would like to go to see a doctor. Does anybody know how much it will cost?
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I heard that it costs around 23 euros to see a doctor in France.
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Can you designate one health insurance as primary and another secondary?

I have health insurance through my wives work, and I am starting a new job that offers me health insurance. Can I carry my wives health insurance, and carry a secondary through my work? Or will the two companies fight over who should pay as primary and secondary?
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It is determined by where your birthdays fall with in the calendar year. For example, if your birthday is in March and your wife's is in June, your insurance would be primary (for both of you if you are both on both plans, also for your children) because your birthday is earlier in the year. The other would be secondary. If you google "insurance birthday rule" you will find some more information.
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How do I obtain cheap, good health insurance in South Carolina?

I currently live in Conn. but I am moving to SC in the middle of April, but I won't have health insurance when I get down there because I am currently on state insurance, which is up at the beginning of April. But I really need insurance because I have monthly prescriptions that I need. So does anyone know how I can get insurance just intil I get a job with benefits.
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You also need to know what is included in your policy — such as any extras than can be taken out for a lower premium. Coverage areas like vision, dental and mental health can usually be removed without much risk.
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Why are health insurance companies forced into specific Enrollment Periods by the government?

For example, in this part of the US, you can only enroll in a certain health insurance company between the weeks of 11-15 and 12-31. Apparently CMS, the regulatory healthcare branch of the government, enforces this rule. Doesn't that just make everything more difficult for the customers, providers, companies, and CMS itself? An entire multi-billion dollar business only gets to work for 8 weeks out of the year. Am I missing something, here?
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The IRS did this, to keep employees from jumping on for one month, putting in the claims, and then dumping the insurance. Employers didn't object, because it's a lot of paperwork and effort, if an employee wants to do that six times a year. It actually simplifies things drastically, AND, helps prevent adverse selection issues. **This is only for GROUP plans. As the Pickle mentioned, private coverage does NOT have these limitations.**
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How do I get affordable health insurance for my son?

I was in between jobs last year so I had to put my son on medicaid. As soon as I found a job I let them know but they kicked him off of it anyways. The problem I am having is that my insurance at work don't kick in until November and he has to have insurance by then for doctors appointments, etc. I tried to get MC+ for kids but they make it almost impossible to get. I just was wondering if anyone knew of a place where I can get affordable health insurance for my son?
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A lot will depend on where you live because different states have different programs for children. As long as your son is under the age of 18 then most states and even some counties will have some form of program that you will be able to look into. If you make too much money to qualify for a government program then your best bet is probably individual health insurance for your son. As long as he is relatively healthy then it should be no problem at all finding a cheap plan. Be sure that you shop around and compare quotes from at least 3-5 different reputable companies. Enlist the help of an independent health insurance agent or broker so that they can help you comparison shop. Here is some more information on finding affordable health insurance:
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What would be a good health insurance for me?

I am considered part-time where I work and its 150$ a month for health insurance, compared to 70$ for full timers. My wife was going to add me to her plan, (we work at the same place, but she is full-time) But it will still come out to the same per month as it would be I I just got it. I only want the insurance for a year cause then if my wife add's me on next year, it will be like me being full-time. So I want a decent insurance with a decent prescription plan. I was looking into Highmark PPOBlue.
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The Blue Cross plan is an excellent idea, suggesting that you take a high deductible to lower your monthly premium. Many of your preventive care needs should be covered without having to meet the high deductible, and most Blue Cross plans cover prescriptions, office visits, and urgent care with a low co-payment.
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How long am I covered under tlhe Massachusetts law under my parents health insurance?

Ok I am 22 years old turning 23 in March. I currently enrolled full time in college, now my dad's company says they will only give me health insurance until I am 23 even if I am full time student. But a few of my friends parents have said they passed a new bill that allows full time students to remain on their parents health insurance until 26. Is this true? If so is their a direct ip address I can type in and print out the form so he can bring it to his work? Thank you!
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health-quotes.isgreat.org - my family have this health insurance. It is affordable and has good coverage for dental issues.
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How can I find a health insurance company that won't deny me?

I have applied with a couple of major health insurance companies and have been denied due to weight, mildly high cholesterol and a condition I have called polycystic ovarian syndrome. Is there a health insurance out there that takes riskier customers?
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Every company will have different height and weight guidelines. In my state some companies will decline with a BMI around 30 while others will accept up to 39 or 40. The Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an automatic decline with several companies in my area because the cysts can cause weight gain and other problems. Even if you can find a company that will accept your weight and also will accept the PCOS the combination of the two may be a decline. Visit a local agent that works with all the major companies in your area. They agent can find the best chances for you and there is no extra charge. High risk pools are not available in all states. Here is a website to see if a plan is available for you: http://www.cobrahealth.com/statehighrisk…
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Is there any Senior Citizens Health Insurance Policy available with no requirement of medical test?

I want to buy a Senior Citizens Health insurance policy where there is no requirement of medical test prior to take a policy. The age of my Father is 67. Am I able to buy health insurance policy for him with my requirement?
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Need more information. Is your father not eligible for Medicare? Don http://mtnhealthinsurance.com
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Is it legal for employers to REQUIRE employees submit a health assessment to be eligible for health insurance?

My employer is saying that if we do not complete an on-line health assessment we will no longer be eligible for health insurance benefits. The healthassessment is done through our health insurance providers website; BUT, the health insurance provider does NOT require the assessment for coverage. Is this legal?
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Yes, it is legal, but you cannot be charged extra premiums or denied the insurance based upon the assessment. from a FAQ put out by the Dept. of Labor, which helps enforce HIPPA: "Can a plan require an individual to complete a health care questionnaire in order to enroll? Yes, provided that the health information is not used to deny, restrict, or delay eligibility or benefits, or to determine individual premiums." For more info, here is a web site: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_hipaa_N… Or you can call the national or local office of the Employment Benefit Security Administration
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Will my parents know if I start using our health insurance?

I'm about to start seeing a therapist. Will my parents know if I use our health insurance? I'm not really sure how this works.
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Yes. Insurance doesn't pay for everything. There are deductibles and coinsurance for specialists, and if it does they will still get some kind of statement or summary in the mail each time you go.
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How to get birth control with no health insurance?

I just lost my health insurance and the birth control pills I've been taking are very expensive without insurance. I know one option is to go to Planned Parenthood. Are there any other options?
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In most states, the local Health Department (here's yours, in Arizona http://www.azdhs.gov/) may offer birth control free of charge. Here in Oklahoma, even minors can go to the Health Department and get free birth control. Contact your local Health Department with this question. Your taxes support the Health Department, so their services are free.
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