Denied Health Insurance

[isukathis]

This may not be the correct forum for this so I apologize ahead of time....

I have had SVT for the last 10-15 years now but only have about 1 episode a year which has usually been reverted back with a quick visit to the emergency and a shot of Adenosine.

I recently tried to upgrade my Life insurance and was turned down because they contacted my Dr regarding my last visit which was related to the SVT.

My question is has anyone else been turned down because of this?

I am in very good health, 43, I run 4 times a week and have for the last 10 years. I have never smoke and only drink occasionally.

I had to have a physical prior to being turned down and the nurse that took my resting heart rate said I passed with flying colours (56 was my rate)....

Is there anything I can do to fight this?

Thanks for any help... Paul

[dolfnlvr]

Yes.  Unfortunately there are key words in a doctor's report that automatically bump you into a high risk category for life insurance companies.  It doesn't matter if the situation is completely benign and statistically insignificant, the terms and or episodes will kick you out of their "eligibility" guidelines.  

Insurance companies are there to make money.  And, if they say they will pay when you die then they need to make sure you live long enough to pay into the company a higher amount than you will cost them if/when you die.  As you age, your premiums go up...because you are going to die sooner (sorry...it's a fact).  So, when they see the word tachycardia which indicates an irregular heart rhythm that indicates a situation that is "high risk" for them.  It's not really, but you won't be able to convince them of that.

I was undergoing testing for persistent PVC's at one point and during the echo it was discovered that I have an atrial wall aneurysm.  Holy ****!!!!  The word scared me too!!!  But all it means is that when my heart pumps the wall between my atria moves slightly due to the pressure in the heart.  This is COMPLETELY BENIGN..and the cardio explained that it is actually COMMON among the population.  In other words, it's more NORMAL than abnormal.  But...because I had the test, and because the word is in my medical record I have to pay out the nose for life insurance.  In the world of insurance, aneurysm=death.  In the world of medicine, aneurysm describes ANY bulge, not matter its normalcy or its malignancy.  Try explaining to the insurance company and you'll get another "risk factor"....because turning blue in the face indicates oxygen deprivation...they don't like to insure that either :-)

Sorry....it's the double edged sword of the medical system.  Diagnose it for piece of mind, suffer the consequences of that piece of mind later.....

Good luck in finding something.  Luckily, my company offers a life insurance policy for ALL employees regardless of their medical status.  It's not the best policy, but it provides me with social piece of mind.  

[Barbarella]

Can a "Life" insurance and NOT a "health" insurance get information from a person's doctor?  I thought this was not possible for doctors to give out medical histories of the patients especially not without notifyfing the patient before they give out the info.

I heard before that a husband or wife cannot even get information from doctors about their spouses health/illness but the Life Insurance companies can?

If I were you I would contact a lawyer or go to legal aid since lawyers charge $250.00 an hour and ask if a Life Insurance company can get this info from your doctor behind your back.  If they can, and family members can't (by law) then I would ask them for an explanation "why".

[Barbarella]

I forgot to mention above that I had called different doctors twice in the past to find out about test results for my husband because I was more worried about it then my husband  was and I was told twice "sorry we cannot give out that information, your husband has to call". First I thought maybe because I was "calling" and anybody could say that they are the wife.  I then said "if I come in person and show you my ID can I get the results? And the said "no this is the law we cannot only give out medical information to the patient itself, NOT to spouses or family members".  And here "Life" Insurance companies are allowed to get info behind the patient's back??  I'd check into this if I were you.

[isukathis]

Thank you so much for your comments. I appreciate it greatly!

What upsets me is that I have always taken care of myself ( I never eat junk food, have never smoked, I weight 170lbs @ 6ft tall, which is my target weight/height ratio) and feel great! I just get the 1, sometimes no episodes per year.

I might go to my cardiologist, who gave me the tests, including a stress test and told me I was in better shape than himself, and see if he could write a letter or something?

I just don't like the fact that my insurance company has labeled me "high-risk" when I'm probably in the minority of people who really do look after their health!

Thanks again for your comments... Paul

[lovingmom2]

How strict a life insurance policy is depends on the underwriter.  You could look into adding extra insurance with another company.  It also depends if you are looking at term or whole life.  Whole life is a lot harder to get w/ any medical condition.  There are places that will gather all your info. and hen tell you the best policies available for different companies.   The the other post-when you get life insurance you have to have blood work and a nurse visit.  You also give the life insurance company permission to access your doctor records.  Depending on your medical history they may or may not request them.  

[Barbarella]

"lovingmom2" is right.  I 've heard of nurses coming to the house working for insurance companies, at least there should be paperwork that you give "permission" for the insurance company to look into your medical records.

I too would talk to the Cardiologist.  An incompetend, poorly trained and new employee could've given the Insurance company your medical info.

I don't care who it is I do not think that anybody including insurance companies should be allowed to get your medical history/status BEHIND your back and WITHOUT  your permission/signature.

[Barbarella]

"lovingmom2" is right.  I 've heard of nurses coming to the house working for insurance companies, at least there should be paperwork that you give "permission" for the insurance company to look into your medical records.

I too would talk to the Cardiologist.  An incompetend, poorly trained and new employee could've given the Insurance company your medical info.

I don't care who it is I do not think that anybody including insurance companies should be allowed to get your medical history/status BEHIND your back and WITHOUT  your permission/signature.

[dolfnlvr]

When you apply for life insurance, there is a clause in the paperwork that gives the insurance company permission to contact your doctor(s).  Again, this is a risk analysis procedure for their business.  While I may not like that it exists, the company is just trying to protect itself from people with serious illnesses or even fatal illnesses who may apply for coverage after diagnosis.  This sounds very rude, but here it is, none-the-less.  If you are running a business, and you are basing your "bottom line" on bringing in more money than you are putting out, then you need a majority of your clients to live to a ripe old age and pay you mucho money while you're alive.  That way, when they do have to pay out for accidental or unexpected deaths, their bottom line is protected.  If more of your customers live LONG lives then short ones, you will make money.

So, in the interest of capitalism and free commerce, insurance companies often require permission to investigate your medical history prior to accepting you as a customer.  They base their premiums on your health, your risk factors, and your probable longevity.  

The long and short of it is that whenever you apply for life insurance, you give them permission to look into your medical history.  It's in the fine print.

[Barbarella]

Thanks for telling me this.  I never applied for life insurance but my husband did, 25 yrs ago. We still have the same life insurance and to our knowledge they never looked into our medical records because we were never notified of an increase or being refused because of a certain illness.    

Of course would we now "upgrade" it or get a different Life Insurance they probably would respond like they did to "isukathis".

Its appalling how somebody with SVT can be turned out.  This is not a life threatening illness.  

But of course Life Insurance companies would like to have clients who stay healthy for 100 yrs and never die so they wont have to pay any Life Insurance.

[momtofourboys]

I have been denied not for heart but my diseease and it is not life threatening just many surgeries, my 4 year old has a cardiac issues and he has been denied.  When you apply for health insurance you sign a medical release to have them review your records, trust me it is not easy.  one of them denied my husband, he was involved in a motorcycle accident while recouping he had symptoms of having a hernia. he went to see a surgeon and they said no so his primary doctor asked him if he wasnted a second opinion and hubby said no well that was written that a second opinion  was offered and refused, well hubby was refued like insurance.
Now whole life usually you don't need a medical exam, however it is more expensive
good luck
Michelle

[isukathis]

Thanks for all of your comments...

The problem I have now is that if I try with a different company they always ask if you have ever been denied life insurance. I'm running in a 20k marathon this weekend and will probably finish somewhere in the middle of the pack beating many runners half my age!!!!

I will let you know if asking my Cardiologist for a letter will help.

PS They didn't ask me for permission per say but instead just asked me what my last visit to the Dr was. In hind sight I should of told them it was for a cold :(

Thanks all.