Too fat for medical insurance!

iplayoutside19

Also why is it that anorexia is a legit eating disorder

You'll get rated for just about anything including anorexia. Both on individual health insurace, and life insurance policies. That's part of the advantage of joining a group plan.

Does anyone know if you can COBRA Military Insurance?

jennylynn84

Yep. My parents have had problems getting insurance in the past because of their weights (getting better now, yay!). They've either had to find a company that will take them anyway or one who's policy will let them get away with fibbing. Obesity is high-risk for insurance companies, just like if you were a smoker or had a history of medical problems. Never been thin enough to worry about being too small for insurance (anorexia) but I imagine it might end up rating you higher - its still outside of the healthy BMI range, which is all they use to judge.

vabigguy

I know that when my Mom was looking into health insurance before she retired. She needed a policy for a couple of years until she was eligible for Medicare. Her insurance agent told her that if she lost 20 pounds that her premiums would be lower. I can't say that it is right as to what the insurance company is doing to you. But, insurance is a business. It is there to make money. Statistically insuring an obese person, not saying that you are, is a losing situation for them. So, I can't hold it against them for putting stipulations on the people they insure.

My questions is if an average weight person got the insurance and then gained 50-100 lbs. Would they drop them?

jlsAhava

I'd ask for more information. They tried to do something similar to my dad and then he requested a phsyical examination. They did a complete physical and found out he was in better health than, no joke, 85% of their clients. They stereotype too much. Yes, my dad weighs over 300 pounds, but he has no cholesterol/blood pressure issues and his resting heart rate is 62bpm! They gave him such a HUGE discount because he's so healthy!! It might be worth calling and asking... but yea, the cost if you're overweight is rough. Are you able to just get your husband some dental insurance and then wait off on your own until he qualifies?

That's a great idea! Insurance companies and businesses in general had down negative decisions assuming that the customer won't speak up / follow up on them. Most people don't! If you follow up and ask for a physical exam or just be a squeaky wheel in general, there's a chance that things could go in your favor. Besides... if they allow the physical and then deny you, at least you will get a free physical and know where your health stands.

My questions is if an average weight person got the insurance and then gained 50-100 lbs. Would they drop them?

I imagine it would depend if they were made aware of the weight gain. Doctors probably aren't required to submit their reports, and as far as I know (though I haven't had insurance in several years) you don't need to resubmit this kind of information on a daily basis. If they don't know, they won't drop you!

darwintheboxer

Even in countries with socialized medicine, the taxes to support those programs are sometimes up to 70%-80% of people's incomes.

This is simply not accurate.

mayburcm

I can't imagine how frustrating that must be, no one should be denied access to health insurance!!!! Makes me very happy to be Canadian.

mayburcm

That tax figure is just not right at all (the one 70 - 80%)

AmeMahoney

Maybe that'll get people to think twice about trying to repeal the new health care plan. I have a Master's Degree in Public Health and have done a lot of research in health care both in the US and other countries (comparative studies for different systems). Most of the comments people make about "ObamaCare" are just ignorant. Obviously they have done no research or actually looked at it, but are buying into Socialist Propaganda. Good luck with that.

Incidentally, the majority of health care costs in the US (estimated at about 65% of the total system) is actually for administrative fees because there are so many health care plans available and the amount of time spent on billing, and re-billing because no one can figure out what they're doing due to the overwhelming amount of codes. Countries with one state-funded plans do the best financially in general, but people here in the US gripe then they wouldn't have a choice. As if when you get a job and you are offered coverage you are getting a "choice." Not even.

erickirb

That tax figure is just not right at all (the one 70 - 80%)

True that, my tax rate is in the 30% range (marginal rate is higher though on each new dollar earned) in Canada, in the second highest taxed province and we have universal health care. Dental, prescriptions, physio are some other services are not covered here though, unless you are low income, or your employer's plan covers them.

So those with low income get close to 100% coverage and their tax rate is less than 20%.

SMarie10

I don't understand how it can infuriate you that a health insurance company would refuse to ensure someone who is a statistical risk or would charge them a higher premium? That's the way insurance works. There is a pool of money that is created in two ways: 1. from the premiums that the participants pay and 2: from investing those premiums. If claims exceed the pool of money then the company goes bankrupt and everyone loses. For this reason, insurance companies determine who can participate and how much they will charge based on statistical data. If you are overweight/obese there is a strong statistical probability that you will cost the company more than it will be able to collect. So either, you get denied coverage or you pay a higher premium to represent a higher risk. The alternative would be for lower risk participants to pay the higher premiums to fund the higher risk member and in a competitive environment, they would simply go to another company that would charge lower premiums.

If you think about it this is the real risk right now in our country. The governement has decided that everyone has to be insured. Well, were is the money going to come from to pay for all the claims when you consider that more than half the population in the country is overweight/obese and that related diseases continue to increase? There is only one possibility right now and that is through increased taxes. Someone has to pay for health services, they don't come free. Even in countries with socialized medicine, the taxes to support those programs are sometimes up to 70%-80% of people's incomes.

That, in my opinion, is why you see so many people on this site trying to get their health, and consequently their weight, under control. You'd better get healthy, because very few of us can afford getting sick.

You are correct - the decisions to accept or deny or rate coverage are all based on actuarial tables for height, weight, age, sex, and if you are a higher risk category, you will either have be denied coverage completely, or have a rating / waiver placed on your coverage precluding payment for pre-existing conditions. Medical Insurance is really not very different than any other type of insurance.. If you had multiple speeding tickets / wrecks, good luck finding low-cost auto coverage. It all boils down to risk - and insurance companies - like all other businesses try to mitigate the risk so the other policyholders don't end up paying more for "unhealthy" people. That is why the new health care law want's to cover Everyone - spreads the risk over a much greater pool of people and allows both healthy and unhealthy, old -young etc. an opportunity to get medical coverage. Next steps is to get the medical community to charge reasonable fee's and work toward preventative care for everyone, not just those who can afford it.

hroush

Health insurance is why many companies are doing internal biggest loser competitions. The hope is that people will lose weight and cut the company's health insurance costs.

sek92

maybe go down to the ACAP office or tricare on your nearest post and see if they have any suggestions, i always thought that when you got out there was insurance to cover until you got new one, even though you are not in the Army,maybe someone can help you out,

CCJ13

BCBS denied me last year at 270lbs. I lost 40lbs & tried again. I can't have anymore kids & have no health problems & I'm still losing weight. My husband's insurance is $127 per month with BCBS. Mine was going to be $380. We told them no thanks & are going with United Health. It is only going to be $388 per month for both of us.

mayburcm

That tax figure is just not right at all (the one 70 - 80%)

True that, my tax rate is in the 30% range (marginal rate is higher though on each new dollar earned) in Canada, in the second highest taxed province and we have universal health care. Dental, prescriptions, physio are some other services are not covered here though, unless you are low income, or your employer's plan covers them.

So those with low income get close to 100% coverage and their tax rate is less than 20%.

Health care in Canada is well worth any of the taxes we pay. Between my parents work drug coverage/dental and the provincial health care I don't have to worry about the cost of prescriptions/dental/physio/massage therapy or ever having to pay any deductibles. I remember once my provincial health coverage was expired (just because I hadn't ordered a new card) and I got a bill from the emergency room for $230. I laughed. There was no way I was going to be paying it, it was just a glitch in the system. I called and got my card renewed and I didn't have to pay anything. I am considered low income because I have been in university and working mostly minimum wage jobs, and the income taxes I pay in, all come straight back to me at tax time. I don't end up paying a cent for any of it and I'm never afraid to go to the doctor if there's something wrong because of financial reasons.

The direction Obama is trying to go in would do a lot for the people. People should start supporting his efforts again.

Hardworker481

Even in countries with socialized medicine, the taxes to support those programs are sometimes up to 70%-80% of people's incomes.

This is simply not accurate.

Oh its close. That person is not off by much with those numbers. Not to mention the quality of care in countries with socialized medicine. Basically the govt. says "well, you've spent 200k to get yourself through medical school, but we will limit you to 40-50k per year...and you have to work whenever we tell you and treat whoever we tell you to" Not to mention the emergency room waiting hours under socialized medicine...it is sometimes days.

freerange

They probably consider obesity a "pre-existing condition." My guess is that they'd deny you if you had anorexia as well. Eventually, with Obama's health care plan, insurance companies won't be able to penalize anyone this way

Won’t be able to penalize anyone??????? How about Obama penalizing the insurance companies by making them take on people of higher risk without being compensated for it? It’s not the insurance companies fault you are over weight,,, is it? Oh wait, I forgot it’s President Bush’s fault.

sconns21

Move to the UK the NHS is a beautiful thing!

erickirb

Even in countries with socialized medicine, the taxes to support those programs are sometimes up to 70%-80% of people's incomes.

This is simply not accurate.

Oh its close. That person is not off by much with those numbers. Not to mention the quality of care in countries with socialized medicine. Basically the govt. says "well, you've spent 200k to get yourself through medical school, but we will limit you to 40-50k per year...and you have to work whenever we tell you and treat whoever we tell you to" Not to mention the emergency room waiting hours under socialized medicine...it is sometimes days.

Just an FYI, but when looking at quality of care you may want to look at life expectancies and Canada's life expectancy is 2-4 years longer than the US.

erickirb

Even in countries with socialized medicine, the taxes to support those programs are sometimes up to 70%-80% of people's incomes.

This is simply not accurate.

Oh its close. That person is not off by much with those numbers. Not to mention the quality of care in countries with socialized medicine. Basically the govt. says "well, you've spent 200k to get yourself through medical school, but we will limit you to 40-50k per year...and you have to work whenever we tell you and treat whoever we tell you to" Not to mention the emergency room waiting hours under socialized medicine...it is sometimes days.

Once you finish your residency, doctors in Canada make over 100K and usually only sped about 100K or so in education.

Bakkasan

Same boat. Boo.