Gwynne- Re: Health Insurance For Thyca

[Guest guest]

Gwynne - Regarding your statement about a law forbidding exclusions

of preexisting conditions- I live in Oregon and my understanding is

that each state has an Insurance Regulating Agency that sets the

stage for the insurance rules in each state. Therefore, I thought

that the prexisting condition clause differs depending on the company

you work for and the state where the company is

chartered/registered. I just completed the insurance enrollment for

my company in Oregon and also for my husband's who works in

Washington. When I looked into the preexisting clause for my thyca,

I was told by his company that they would exclude any thyca related

charges or any other condition if I had been seen by a physician for

that condition within the last 90 days. Therefore, I chose to

continue insurance with my company even though it would have been

cheaper to go with my husband's.

Am I missing something here or was I given incorrect information? I

would love to hear more from you about this law that you might know

about?

Thanks for your help.

Sonu Mitts - Portland, OR Pap Cancer TT 7/17/01 RAI 10/3/01.

In Thyca@y..., " gbambach64 " <gbambach@a...> wrote:

> ,

>

> Your new employer in Colorado should offer you one or more medical

> plans to enroll in which you stay in usually from Jan thru Dec.

> Then, in October of 2002, you might be allowed to make changes

> (switch plans, change coverage, etc) that will take effect in 2003

> calendar year.

>

> Plans vary for what types of medical treatment is covered and how

> much of expense is covered (full, partial, or none). You will

> usually bear some part of the expenses (i.e., monthly deduction

from

> paycheck, a co-pay for office visits and/or perscriptions).

>

> Your treatment for thyca follow up will be covered within whichever

> plan you select since we now have a law that forbids insurance

> companies from denying a person coverage for pre-exisiting

> conditions.

>

> My suggestions to you would be to review all the medical plans

> offered to see how the differ and hopefully you can pick the one

that

> best suits your needs. Having thyca, I would look for one that

> covers 80% or more of in-patient and out-patient hospital costs,

low

> office visit co-pay (mine is $10.00 per visit) and low perscription

> co-pay (mine is $5.00 for each perscription).

>

> Some plans require you to go to specific doctors that are " in the

> plan " others let you choose your own doctor. You may want to ask

> your co-workers for their opinions.

>

> I belong to an HMO (health maintenance organization) and must go to

> specific hosptials, clinics, and doctors. I enrolled in my HMO

more

> than 14 years ago and I've been extremely pleased with every aspect

> of it. For the first 13 years I only needed to be doctored for

> colds, flu, and annual exams; then this year I dealt with the

entire

> thyca issue of surgery, RAI, follow-up, etc. I didn't pay for

> anything other than office visits and perscription co-pays and I

> NEVER have to deal with any billing issues or reimbursement

issues.

> I feel that the time and aggrevation saved in not having to fight

> with an insurance company is worth A LOT more than I'm paying each

> monht for family medical coverage ($74.00)

>

> Good Luck! I hope this helps you.

>

> Gwynne Bambach - Michigan

> Pap w fol var, tumor 1.7cm, lymph node mets

> DX 12/21/00 (age 36)

> TT 1/5/01

> RAI 4/11/01 101.5 mCi

> (delayed 3 months due to iodine from previous CT scan)

> 2nd RAI – upcoming 4/2002