Quote:
Originally Posted by hobbes9324
"For example, I have mild asthma that costs WAY less than $4,000 a year to cover (like maybe $100, if that). I've never had a serious attack, never needed emergency care, etc. I'd gladly take that off my insurance coverage to save $4,000. I'd take it off to save $200."
From a docs point of view this is......questionable.
I can't see how you can allow someone a Chinese Menu plan without opening a lot of doors that you maybe don't want to open. For example, in your case, you de-select asthma to save a few bucks. From a medical perspective asthma is reactive airway disease - if six months later you get exposed to something that causes a reactive airway problem, is your coverage any good? Asthma is in the family of COPD - if 30 years from now you develop emphysema (and you don't have to smoke to do so) does your opting out 30 years ago mean you're now stuck with honking bills you have no way of paying?
MM MD
That's fair, it could be worded more strictly like not covering inhalers/maintenance medication and putting an $X cap on emergency coverage for it. Some people need that stuff constantly, I use it maybe one week a year. So, if they take away price protection for pre-existing conditions, I'm paying WAY more in increased premiums than I'm getting back in coverage.
The COPD point is a big concern with this kind of stuff. I also have sleep apnea, and the problem is due to the correlation for heart problems, cancer, etc, it's difficult to imagine writing sleep apnea out of a plan and being covered for that stuff.
My main point was that if insurers are required to cover it, I don't mind people being able to opt out. But the only reason to do that would be to save money, and if they can't punish you for pre-existing conditions, then there's very little point in opting out anyway.
Quote:
Originally Posted by markksman
Yeah I think some are confused about pre-existing conditions. Patients don't get to choose. If someone has asthma they don't get to opt out. If they don't disclose it the insurance company can and potentially will deny paying for any or all claims, even ones not directly connected to asthma. It is considered fraud.
The more nefarious part is the insurers will absolutely collect premiums for as long as possible and then deny paying claims.
No, I understand. I wasn't even going to be able to get insurance before Obamacare (it was right around the time I could no longer stay on my family's plan). They literally wouldn't price plans for me and wouldn't remove anything to make me an offer. The free market was rejecting me entirely.