Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum.  ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
 | 

Post tx change of Health insurance?

by dutch_boy, Jun 07, 2008 03:07PM
Hello everyone,  I have not visited this sight in 2 years and it so good to see it's new design. I was involved with this  sight throughout my Geno 4 Hep C battle and am very pleased that 2 years after my tx that I am clear of the virus.  It was a difficult tx but I got through it with the results I only dreamed of!  Those of you battling through it have my best wishes and hopes for the best outcomes possible for you.
During my tx I was insured with Blue Cross / Blue Shield which was challenging at times but they did honor my insurance through my long tx. I could not have done it without it.  The costs of their individual policy which I've had both before, during and after tx is now too expensive for me to continue with them.  I am now considering a Health Savings Account with United Healthcare and have anxiety about getting new insurance post Hepatitis C tx.  Their policy states that they don't cover pre-existing conditions and they consider them to be anything within the past 2 years.  My last Hep tx shots were over 2 years now but has anyone out there tried to change health insurance post tx and had their coverage either denied or premiums increased dramatically when they learned of your Hep C past?  I am too worried to tell my new insurance agent who recommended United HSA plan about my past Hep C tx even though I am now clear of the virus and my tx was over their 2 year pre-existing clause.  I just don't know what to expect and I am frightened to change to a new insurer but have to due to the costs of the premiums with Blue Cross.
If any of you have experience with changing your health insurance post tx please let me know. Aslo any of you who has experience dealing with United Healthcare would be helpful.  I appreciate your input.  All of you who are presently in tx I wish you all well.  I've been through it and understand it's challenges first hand and am so lucky to have this in my past.
Best to you all,
Scott
Member Comments (8)

by Marcia2202, Jun 07, 2008 03:14PM
To: dutch_boy
I don't know anything about insurances in the US, but I just wanted to congratulate you on your SVR. I hope it will work out well with your insurance.

Marcia

by ladybuglola, Jun 07, 2008 06:04PM
To: dutch_boy
I am 4th week into treatment and have united healthcare.  
I'm happy to say that I've been very pleased with them so far, they have covered 6 mo's of my meds; They go thru caremark for the meds and they send them ups overnite to you 3 mo's at a time.  I'm covered only 6 mo's because the nurse felt that if my viral load wasnt down enough then I wouldnt be continuing treatment so why try and get the full yr covered. Caremark assignes a worker to you for any questions or concerns about the meds.  
Good luck,  

by ladybuglola, Jun 07, 2008 06:06PM
To: dutch_boy
Hi,
I'm sorry I didnt quite understand your questions till I read it again.  I've had uhc b4 treatment so I'm sorry i'm not able to answer your question.
well wishes, d

by alagirl, Jun 07, 2008 06:14PM
My bcbs policy has been so good throughout this that they will have to throw me off of it.  I'm on cobra, but if it starts to run out, they'll put me back on their health policy at the plant I use for my products, and then I'll bump off to cobra again.  That's my plan, anyway.  They even let me pay late one month without canceling me when I was in the hospital.  And if ever there would be a good person to cancel, Lord knows it would be me.

by redrodeo, Jun 07, 2008 08:57PM
To: dutch_boy
     Thats a good question. I am faced with a similiar situation. During my tx I was terminated by my employer. So now when I get a new job how do I answer those questions. If you have a specific insurance in mind I think you could call their benefit office and just ask a general question. I don't think you would need to identify yourself. Just say I see under pre-exciting conditions you say 2 years. So you want to ask them does that mean the last time a person was treated or from date of starting new policy. I would guess its from the start of the new insurance. The intent of pre-excisting conditions is to keep people from getting the policy and immediately using it for that condition. When you find out let me know. As I am going to be looking myself within the next month. Thanks
Red

by scratchinghead, Jun 08, 2008 12:57AM
To: alagirl
Aren't you done with treatment?

by copyman, Jun 08, 2008 06:03AM
To: dutch_boy
i would not take the chance , you may find yourself with no health insurance. one of the questions asked on the application is previous illness. if you lie they can cancel your membership, not pay a claim or take you to court to recover all money they spent for your health.

by dutch_boy, Jun 09, 2008 09:07PM
To: everyone
Thanks for all your input regarding my decision to change health coverage.  It is a difficult decision and has given me a great deal of anxiety.  I assume and am very hopeful that my Hep C is now a thing of the past but I would hate to be faced with it again and the insurance company denies me of coverage for not "telling all" to them from the start......even if it means I have to pay higher premiums which has been my whole reason to change from Blue Cross.  
Thanks again for your input..........and I hope you are all hanging in there.
My best,
Scott
Related discussions
Post Comment
To
Comment
Post Comment
Recent Activity
luckybritbrit added the Hepatitis C Tracker
1 hr ago
aheart commented on photo
2 hrs ago
hartley78 commented on photo
3 hrs ago
hartley78 commented on photo
3 hrs ago
aheart lately feeling healthier, grateful
aheart uploaded a new photo
3 hrs ago
Isobella Happy Thanksgiving All!!!
larma joined this community
Welcome them!
13 hrs ago
RSS Expert Activity
What You Don't Know About Breathing...
Nov 24 by Steven Y Park, MD
Thanksgiving
Nov 23 by Thomas Dock, Vet. Technician
Snoring As Your Internal Smoke Alar...
Nov 22 by Steven Y Park, MD
Community Members