Need advice finding health insurance

fulloflead

fulloflead

Joined
May 3, 2002
Messages
6,192
I'm unemployed and just signed up for a temp agency. I can't get unemployment because I QUIT in order to move to the Washington DC area and didn't find a job before moving day.

I had COBRA but I canceled it and sent in my payment and paperwork to Kaiser Permantente. But they rejected me because I'm a "smoker", they didn't like my height-to-weight ratio and I have prescriptions for a few minor things.

But I'm not really a smoker. I smoke cigars and a pipe (don't inhale); I just didn't know what to put in the "tobacco use" section of the application so I just explained it.

Anyway, now I have no insurance and can't afford my Rx and I'm afraid I'm going to get hurt or sick and then will really be stuck!

So, what now?

I can get COBRA through the temp agency, but it's really expensive. Like $350 per month. Is there any other kind of health insurance I can apply for? What about the cigars? (I'm willing to quit until I get on my feet.)

I'm writing freelance, but it's only a little bit of income; I guess I'm 'sort-of' "self employed".

I looked up MEGA insurance because they have so many radio commercials, but they have bad things written about them on the internet.

What other health providers can I apply with?

I know, strange question, but this is the only real forum I really care about, and you guys never fail me, so I figured I'd ask here.

Thanks.
 
It is unbelievably rare to die or get sick from smoking pipes. Just leave that bit out, and you shouldn't feel guilty. Study after study shows that pipe smokers actually live longer, probably because of the stress reduction of enjoying a pipe.

If you inhale cigars regularly, you can get cancer pretty easily, just like cigarettes. Mouth cancer can also happen, but is fairly rare. The overwhelming majority of cigar smokers suffer no ill health effects, mainly because the overwhelming majority of cigar smokers don't inhale and smoke at most one cigar a day.

So I would say just check off non-smoker next time you apply for anything, because what they're really interested in is cigarettes and chewing tobacco.

On the other hand, they will hang you when you are honest,because it's just another way to either up your fees or deny you coverage if they have any doubts about whether you will ever need health care.
 
bobofish said:
...Study after study shows that pipe smokers actually live longer, probably because of the stress reduction of enjoying a pipe...
Click to expand...

Yes! I agree totally!:)


bobofish said:
So I would say just check off non-smoker next time you apply for anything, because what they're really interested in is cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sure you're right.

Now I just need to find another decent place to apply to.

.
 
I think blue cross and blue shield and humana both have individual health insurance policies. I have the BC&BS and it is good insurance but I'm sure the plans vary by area.
 
Do you belong to a credit union? they often have partner deals with insurance companies.

You may also try to contact an insurance broker from the yellow pages, I don't know if DC does this but here in MA there is a state pool of insurance, perhaps call the DC insurance department.
 
No credit union. I applied with Blue Cross and I'm waiting to hear back.

I could try a broker next. Thanks.
 
Check your state's high risk pool. Your right to worry about it. Your right screwed if you let the gap in coverage exceed a certain period. Are your Rx's necessary or optional?
 
You are inside the beltway? So apply for a fed. govt. job. Bennys are excellent so I hear....income isn't real problem also.... not great, but no problem.....
 
fulloflead said:
I don't know what you mean.
Click to expand...

Most insurers have a pre-existing conditions clause in the coverage. If your coverage lapses longer than 63 days, all pre-existing conditions can be excluded from coverage. No prescription coverage on existing prescriptions, they can deny advanced medical care (chemo, surgery) if it relates to a pre-existing condition (you were on statins for cholesterol and you had a heart attack). This exclusionary period can last a year. It will be applied by individual plans and group plans alike.

From what you said earlier in the thread, I don't know of any individual plans that are going to take you (smoker), and the major insurers now crosscheck applications against each other in the event of a major claim so they can deny based on app fraud.

Non group health coverage in the US is for the young and healthy, or the rich - but that is best left for the political discussion forum. Your best bet is to lie (commit insurance fraud) to get into an individual plan knowing your effectively uninsured (and taking a big gamble) while looking for a job with group coverage. Your individual plan will count in covering any gaps between group plans.

If its already been more than 63 days since you've had health insurance, expect anything major you may need to be challenged under pre-existing condition clauses for a year - so your paying premiums but you still have a huge financial risk on your shoulders.

Insurance is a wonderful and extremely profitable scam for a few wealthy individuals in this country. Either pay into it and further this blatant exploitation or do what I do and go uncovered. Take the peace of the lord with you. Why do you want to stay on this rock when the lord tries to call you home?
 
nick74 said:
Most insurers have a pre-existing conditions clause in the coverage. If your coverage lapses longer than 63 days, all pre-existing conditions can be excluded from coverage. No prescription coverage on existing prescriptions, they can deny advanced medical care (chemo, surgery) if it relates to a pre-existing condition (you were on statins for cholesterol and you had a heart attack). This exclusionary period can last a year. It will be applied by individual plans and group plans alike.

From what you said earlier in the thread, I don't know of any individual plans that are going to take you (smoker), and the major insurers now crosscheck applications against each other in the event of a major claim so they can deny based on app fraud.

Non group health coverage in the US is for the young and healthy, or the rich - but that is best left for the political discussion forum. Your best bet is to lie (commit insurance fraud) to get into an individual plan knowing your effectively uninsured (and taking a big gamble) while looking for a job with group coverage. Your individual plan will count in covering any gaps between group plans.

If its already been more than 63 days since you've had health insurance, expect anything major you may need to be challenged under pre-existing condition clauses for a year - so your paying premiums but you still have a huge financial risk on your shoulders.

Insurance is a wonderful and extremely profitable scam for a few wealthy individuals in this country. Either pay into it and further this blatant exploitation or do what I do and go uncovered. Take the peace of the lord with you. Why do you want to stay on this rock when the lord tries to call you home?
Click to expand...

Oh, I'm an atheist, so I'm toast.:D

Hey, if I get out past that 63 days and then get a job, will I be able to get into my employer's health plan, or will they reject me too?

.
 
fulloflead said:
Oh, I'm an atheist, so I'm toast.:D

Hey, if I get out past that 63 days and then get a job, will I be able to get into my employer's health plan, or will they reject me too?

.
Click to expand...
Yes you will be able to join a employers plan they cannot restrict because of previous health conditions. Its part of the Group coverage laws of insurance...If you get a job...get me one too..

Ren
 
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