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Dear Group:

I work for a very small company (about 10 employees), and I was diagnosed

with PSC about a year ago and haven't told me employers about it. Their

health insurance coverage jumped 30% this year, and as a result they are

switching to a new company which gave them the same rate they had last year.

But yesterday, the insurance broker had to go over a list of existing

conditions with me to give to the " underwriter. " He assured me when I

disclosed my UC/PSC that I could not be denied coverage ... but he led me to

believe that the group rate might have to be increased ... which I'm afraid

will " spill the beans " for me, which could cause some employment problems for

me indirectly (I know they can't legally do anything 'directly'.)

Has anyone had this situation or knowledge of group medical insurance? I

have tried to get independent medical coverage but was turned down because of

the UC/PSC.

Mitch

Atlanta

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You might want to check with the insurance commissioner for your state.

In some states, as long as you have been covered by another health

insurance provider for the previous 12 continuous months, there is no

such thing as underwriting or pre-existing condition clauses...they're

illegal.

Part of the issue, too, may involve the size of your company. Things

like COBRA laws and HIPAA tend to encumber larger (more than 20

employees) companies. The very small businesses are excepted because

of the regulatory and cost burdens of compliance.

I would also be very suspect about a company that will match last

year's premiums. Health insurance premiums across the board are going

up 20-30% for 2000, regardless of company size. I'd have some serious

questions about the level of coverage. Your company may be getting a

break on the premium, but watch out for the back-end costs--high

deductibles, higher co-pays, more restrictive gatekeeping, etc.

Again, I'm coming from the frame of reference as CFO of a medium (150

employee) company. The regulations can vary greatly from state to

state and may also be based on company size.

Tom

mitchpa-@... wrote:

original article:/group//?start=6899

> Dear Group:

>

> I work for a very small company (about 10 employees), and I was

diagnosed

> with PSC about a year ago and haven't told me employers about it.

Their

> health insurance coverage jumped 30% this year, and as a result they

are

> switching to a new company which gave them the same rate they had

last year.

> But yesterday, the insurance broker had to go over a list of existing

> conditions with me to give to the " underwriter. " He assured me when

I

> disclosed my UC/PSC that I could not be denied coverage ... but he

led me to

> believe that the group rate might have to be increased ... which I'm

afraid

> will " spill the beans " for me, which could cause some employment

problems for

> me indirectly (I know they can't legally do anything 'directly'.)

>

> Has anyone had this situation or knowledge of group medical

insurance? I

> have tried to get independent medical coverage but was turned down

because of

> the UC/PSC.

>

> Mitch

> Atlanta

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Mitch,

If you have not had a lapse in insurance coverage, then there is no such

thing as " pre exsisting " you cannot be denied coverage, and I wouldn't think

that they could raise it because of this. Check with your state law.

Love,

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Mitch,

If you have not had a lapse in insurance coverage, then there is no such

thing as " pre exsisting " you cannot be denied coverage, and I wouldn't think

that they could raise it because of this. Check with your state law.

Love,

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Mitch,

If you have not had a lapse in insurance coverage, then there is no such

thing as " pre exsisting " you cannot be denied coverage, and I wouldn't think

that they could raise it because of this. Check with your state law.

Love,

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Mitch,

If your company is part of an HMO they can't deny you or your company medical

coverage. I think they can up the rates if there is pre-existing. I would

think

this should be confidential but you can't be sure of that. Yes it may spill the

beans for you and probably it would be best to expain your disease to your

employer. Where are you in the progression of the disease and are you married.

Maybe you could be insured under your wife's insurance as a dependent. You

would

have to sign up within 30 days of losing your insurance (which if you were with

an HMO you wouldn't lose). It is a major problem. Phil lost his job before tx

and went on cobra. He immediately went on disability because trying to find a

job at 56 and being sick would be a trip. The company he had the cobra with

completely closed down and then back dated his cancellation. Well I was able to

put him on mine and I was able to talk them into waiving the 30 day rule because

of the circumstances. I am forced to stay working where I am at for the

insurance. Not only do we need the insurance but we want to keep Phil on

Kaiser. Calif has a plan that gives small companies the option to join and they

can pick one of many carriers with in this health insurance umbrella plan.

Fortunately my company is being very great in giving me the time I need off to

go

with Phil to his liver doctor and when he is in the hospital and stuff. That's

another reason I stay on a job I dislike. This disease and having insurance is

a

very tough row to hoe. Hope you can work it out. It might work out better for

your employer to stay where they are at costwise.

Peg

MitchPAB@... wrote:

> Dear Group:

>

> I work for a very small company (about 10 employees), and I was diagnosed

> with PSC about a year ago and haven't told me employers about it. Their

> health insurance coverage jumped 30% this year, and as a result they are

> switching to a new company which gave them the same rate they had last year.

> But yesterday, the insurance broker had to go over a list of existing

> conditions with me to give to the " underwriter. " He assured me when I

> disclosed my UC/PSC that I could not be denied coverage ... but he led me to

> believe that the group rate might have to be increased ... which I'm afraid

> will " spill the beans " for me, which could cause some employment problems for

> me indirectly (I know they can't legally do anything 'directly'.)

>

> Has anyone had this situation or knowledge of group medical insurance? I

> have tried to get independent medical coverage but was turned down because of

> the UC/PSC.

>

> Mitch

> Atlanta

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Accurate impartial advice on everything from laptops to tablesaws.

> http://clickhere./click/1701

>

> -- 20 megs of disk space in your group's Document Vault

> -- /docvault//?m=1

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Yes Jon, in Calif. the cobra law is for 2 or more employes but I don't know

if that varies from state to state.

Peg

Tom wrote:

> You might want to check with the insurance commissioner for your state.

> In some states, as long as you have been covered by another health

> insurance provider for the previous 12 continuous months, there is no

> such thing as underwriting or pre-existing condition clauses...they're

> illegal.

>

> Part of the issue, too, may involve the size of your company. Things

> like COBRA laws and HIPAA tend to encumber larger (more than 20

> employees) companies. The very small businesses are excepted because

> of the regulatory and cost burdens of compliance.

>

> I would also be very suspect about a company that will match last

> year's premiums. Health insurance premiums across the board are going

> up 20-30% for 2000, regardless of company size. I'd have some serious

> questions about the level of coverage. Your company may be getting a

> break on the premium, but watch out for the back-end costs--high

> deductibles, higher co-pays, more restrictive gatekeeping, etc.

>

> Again, I'm coming from the frame of reference as CFO of a medium (150

> employee) company. The regulations can vary greatly from state to

> state and may also be based on company size.

>

> Tom

> mitchpa-@... wrote:

> original article:/group//?start=6899

> > Dear Group:

> >

> > I work for a very small company (about 10 employees), and I was

> diagnosed

> > with PSC about a year ago and haven't told me employers about it.

> Their

> > health insurance coverage jumped 30% this year, and as a result they

> are

> > switching to a new company which gave them the same rate they had

> last year.

> > But yesterday, the insurance broker had to go over a list of existing

> > conditions with me to give to the " underwriter. " He assured me when

> I

> > disclosed my UC/PSC that I could not be denied coverage ... but he

> led me to

> > believe that the group rate might have to be increased ... which I'm

> afraid

> > will " spill the beans " for me, which could cause some employment

> problems for

> > me indirectly (I know they can't legally do anything 'directly'.)

> >

> > Has anyone had this situation or knowledge of group medical

> insurance? I

> > have tried to get independent medical coverage but was turned down

> because of

> > the UC/PSC.

> >

> > Mitch

> > Atlanta

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Was the salesman clueless? Productopia has the answers.

> http://clickhere./click/1702

>

> -- Check out your group's private Chat room

> -- /ChatPage?listName= & m=1

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