Post by colormist on Jun 11, 2012 10:40:05 GMT -5
As some of you know, I was laid off last year and went without benefits for quite some time. Six years before being laid off, I sought confirmed diagnosis of HFI. I'm pretty sure that was the last time I was at the doctor (they always want to stab me with needles, weigh me, and do other things that make me very unhappy).
I got a temporary job in January. That job has since turned into a permanent position. I was so happy (after a year of living carefully) to have medical coverage in case of an emergency. Even more happy to be able to go to the dentist (which I actually do go to twice a year) and visit the eye doctor (another necessary evil, since I can't see past my nose without aides).
I got a couple letters in the mail from my insurance company once I was officially employed. They seemed generic and just general-standard-operating policy nonsense, so I skimmed them and then threw them away. They were about preexisting conditions.
This past weekend I received a third letter in the mail that said I was excluded from insurance until 5/13/2013 because I had a preexisting condition. I was almost 99% positive that it was 100% illegal to excluded people from insurance due to preexisting conditions due to Obamacare. But I guess they amended that to "make you wait a year before you can use your insurance". I'm not sure how preventing me from using healthcare for a year is helpful to them (other than the fact that I have to pay for healthcare for a year before I can use it).
I'm contacting my local HR person at work to see WTF is up. Paying for healthcare for a year before you can use it is highway robbery. Not saying that I WOULD use it, since I hate doctors and hospitals and needles and scales, but I like to think that if I break my leg or get stabbed in the liver that I could rely on my insurance without having to pay a 75,000$ hospital bill.
I wanted to keep all US citizens updated about this because I think the hole preexisting condition BS is a bunch of malarky. As much as I advocate towards getting a confirmed diagnosis, I think people (in the US) should be aware of the consequences of diagnosis if you have a lapse in your medical coverage.
I got a temporary job in January. That job has since turned into a permanent position. I was so happy (after a year of living carefully) to have medical coverage in case of an emergency. Even more happy to be able to go to the dentist (which I actually do go to twice a year) and visit the eye doctor (another necessary evil, since I can't see past my nose without aides).
I got a couple letters in the mail from my insurance company once I was officially employed. They seemed generic and just general-standard-operating policy nonsense, so I skimmed them and then threw them away. They were about preexisting conditions.
This past weekend I received a third letter in the mail that said I was excluded from insurance until 5/13/2013 because I had a preexisting condition. I was almost 99% positive that it was 100% illegal to excluded people from insurance due to preexisting conditions due to Obamacare. But I guess they amended that to "make you wait a year before you can use your insurance". I'm not sure how preventing me from using healthcare for a year is helpful to them (other than the fact that I have to pay for healthcare for a year before I can use it).
I'm contacting my local HR person at work to see WTF is up. Paying for healthcare for a year before you can use it is highway robbery. Not saying that I WOULD use it, since I hate doctors and hospitals and needles and scales, but I like to think that if I break my leg or get stabbed in the liver that I could rely on my insurance without having to pay a 75,000$ hospital bill.
I wanted to keep all US citizens updated about this because I think the hole preexisting condition BS is a bunch of malarky. As much as I advocate towards getting a confirmed diagnosis, I think people (in the US) should be aware of the consequences of diagnosis if you have a lapse in your medical coverage.
