10 months of needless pain

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

A friend's lament (Not me, but thanks for the kind thoughts.) A common story of the sort we all hear (and tell) these days... has anyone ever told someone other than a pollster they like their insurance company?


Lay-offs. Only a handful of employees left. Health insurance group now too small to qualify as a group. Employer switches to paying for individual plans.

So far, a relative success story.

Damaged disc from long ago that hurts but never needed medical treatment before flares up baaaaaaaaad. Becomes major quality of life issue.

Condition not mentioned in application for individual policy because it has never been diagnosed or treated, which is the standard on the form for reporting existing conditions.

But obviously a pre-existing condition. (Probably a souvenir of a decades old car wreck.)

Because the individual plan is pretty good it has a window of non-coverage for pre-existing conditions. Only 10 months. (Presumably to make sure nobody is pregnant.)

Hooray! Can haz medical treatment for debilitating condition in only 10 short months. Circle that calendar!

And that's a good news story! Responsible employer, non life-threatening condition, decent quality plan.

(Probable solution: Tell doctor you just now fell on some stairs and had never had trouble before. Wink if necessary.)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I'd hate to hear what the bad news would look like...

My deepest condolences on this horrible situation.

I hope you can find some way to reduce the pain in the meantime...

:hug:

K&R

[Brigid]

2. Only in America.

:eyes: I hope you find a way to deal with it until you can actually get treatment. :hug:

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. Not me, but thank you

Just a conversation with a friend (who is walking like Quasimodo)... the sort of stuff we all sit around and talk about these days.

Except for some government employees and seniors I don't know anyone who doesn't spend as much time worrying about their insurance as their health.

And those are insured people!

[lunatica]

3. Hopefully your flare up will subside soon

Maybe lying isn't such a bad idea. Sorry to hear you have to make such a terrible choice

[mattvermont]

5. after 2 back surgeries myself

and the necessary temporary (thank goodness) addiction to morphine, I feel your pain.
With excellent insurance, I was shuffled around for 10 weeks before they finally conceded to the need for surgery.
This is how it went down both times. Immediate relief was attained following the procedure.
Narcotics are a very cheap alternative to actually dealing with the problem

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. yes, that narcotics angle is important...

As a practical matter, few insurers will worry if you go to the doctor for some dope to treat a pre-existing condition.

But they will draw the line at surgery. That's when they become interested.

So the system is keen on dispensing the worst course of treatment.