What's the craziest reason you, or someone you know, has been denied health insurance?

[LynzM]

I have a friend whose family was denied because she gets allergy shots. Absolutely no other pre-existing conditions, but they get allergy shots. So no insurance for them. :grr: :banghead: :wtf: It's a friggin' joke.

I'm denied because I have diabetes (Type 1 - so not lifestyle-induced or preventable, or anything), but at least that's an "acceptable" reason to be denied. :eyes:

How 'bout you? What's the worst reason you've heard or experienced?

[Captain Hilts]

1. I'm unemployed. nt

[LynzM]

4. Were you denied coverage?

Or just can't afford it? I totally understand the not affording - I've been there, done that, and I'm sorry. :hug: Did a company actual deny you coverage because you're unemployed? That's a new one, to me, wow.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I contacted several insurance companies and they'll only sell me short-term ins.

I was all set to write a check for two grand and when they asked who my employer was - and I said I didn't have one - they told me I could only buy three or six month insurance, which is worthless.

[LynzM]

14. Lovely.

Geez. I'm sorry, dude, that sucks.

[rucky]

37. Become "self-employed"

you won't have to show proof.

[YOY]

2. We actually had an emergency that turned out to be a false alarm

My wife though she had appendicitis...turned out to be a pendicular fibriod. After a horrible ER visit and some insulting doctors the next week we got a letter saying our coverage was gone.

[LynzM]

5. Holy crap.

That's insane. They took away your coverage because you made a trip to the ER? :grr:

:hug:

[YOY]

9. It was a major medical policy at a time of under-employment

The doctor wanted to give my wife a CAT scan. We thought it overkill and that they were trying to get every last buck out of us (they were) because we were apparently "paying customers" and once she was feeling better (it couldn't have been appendicitis if it stopped hurting and wasn't even tender.)

Things are better now for us but it doesn't make me love the system anymore. I refuse to take the "I got mine" attitude since I've been down that road.

Thanks for the love though! Right back 'atcha!

[radfringe]

3. story I read a number of years ago

a woman changed jobs, and with it the health insurance carrier changed. Between the time her old insurance ended and new insurance was suppose to start - she found out she was pregnant. new insurance denied coverage because the pregnacy was a 'pre-existing' condition.

last I knew, she was taking them to court.. don't know how it ended

[LynzM]

6. Yeah, that one sucks.

Don't go changing jobs while you're pregnant, or might be pregnant, or the pregnancy and birth won't be covered. :wtf: Would love to know about how that court case went down...

[dysfunctional press]

30. if she became pregnant while the other insurance was still in force...

wouldn't it be their liability? :shrug:

[shadowknows69]

7. Wife and I make too much money to get medicaid

not enough to buy our own. I have so many pre-exisiting problems now that I doubt anyone would insure me even if we could. The cut off in NY for medicaid in my situation is something like 14,000 a year, GROSS.

[enlightenment]

8. Not completely denied coverage, but a denied claim that was

bizarre. I was scheduled for two surgeries - the first to correct one problem, the second to correct an associated problem. They were supposed to be back to back, but because of complications and prolonged recovery, the second was delayed for almost a year.

The insurance company that had originally approved the second surgery denied the claim - because they said, the first surgery had corrected the problem, so the associated problem was no longer "associated" with anything and so was not covered by the policy.

sigh.

[Warpy]

10. Official reason: anyone who has been to the doctor in the

previous six months...

They didn't even know the diagnosis. If they'd known, they'd probably have been a lot ruder when they told me "no."

This was a company that supposedly insured everybody.

[LynzM]

24. Oh, for fuck's sake.

God forbid you actually tried to take care of yourself?! :banghead: :grr:

[Donald Ian Rankin]

12. A bookmaker should be allowed to choose what bets they take.

Responsibility for ensuring that everyone has decent healthcare is the governments, not private companies.

Healthcare should be free at point of use, and funded by general taxation. It's more cost-efficient to do it that way, and it means everyone gets it free.

[Coyote_Bandit]

13. Many years ago

I came across a company that refused coverage to anyone licensed to practice law (at the time I was licensed to practice but working in the private sector in a non-legal position). As a matter of policy the company did not insure lawyers because they considered them more litigious and more likely to present a higher volume of claims. I wasn't actually denied coverage because I didn't bother to complete the application.


I know someone who was young (20's) with no pre-existing medical conditions who was denied coverage for being overweight - overweight not morbidly obese. This person was denied coverage in writing by five separate health carriers and eventually got health insurance through the state insurance fund. Minimal coverage and very, very expensive. The family was well to do financially, would have preferred and had the ability to pay for coverage through a private insurer. Not an option. Really opened their eyes.


I keep wondering why some consumer group hasn't brought an equal protection suit against the federal government to compel some level of national health care. Tax dollars are used to provide that medical safety net to some US citizens (veterans, Native Americans, some children, disabled and low income folks) but not to others. Some are more equal than others. I think litigation and judicial activism in this area just might help motivate our spineless legislators to begin to address health care issues. I would REALLY like to see some competent, well financed litigation brought under this legal theory.

[Justitia]

15. Acne. I guess pimple creams are too expensive. -eom

[LynzM]

21. That's absurd.

I'm sorry, just, wow. Ridiculous.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. Gay.

Came up after I foolishly answered "yes" to "Have you ever had an HIV test?" I was classified as "high-risk."

[LynzM]

22. Oh dude, I'm sorry.

Of all the shitty ways to discriminate against someone... ugh. :hug: I'd add something snarky here, but I'm too pissed on your behalf. :grr:

[Behind the Aegis]

35. Thanks!

It was after my COBRA (what a rip-off) had expired and my partner's company hadn't added domestic partners (they since have). I finally got some insurance and it was expensive and crappy, but at least I had it until I could get good coverage.

and a :hug: to you!

[Ohio Joe]

33. Disgusting

I'm straight but have had myself tested before and after every relationship I've been in since... well damn, some time back in the late 80's. I'm glad I've not been asked that question when getting insurance yet.

[Behind the Aegis]

36. If asked, LIE!!!!

One would think getting tested was a good thing, but apparently some "people" (insurance companies) see it as an admission of risky behavior,a s opposed to responsible behavior.

[rucky]

38. Wouldn't it be higher risk to not get tested?

That sums up the whole fucked-up system. Sorry you had to be the poster child.

[Nutmegger]

17. I took three classes.

And, according to the insurance company, that's not "full-time" even though I was considered full-time by the school. I got on the phone and they gave me this bullshit answer. It's no use arguing with them.

Of course, not too long after that I got an ear infection!

Hi LynzM! :hi:

[LynzM]

23. Oh geez, yeah.

School-related insurance stuff, double-fun.

Hey Nutmegger! :hi:

[kimmylavin]

18. Not denied insurance, but denied a claim.

Had my wisdom teeth out.
Dental insurance wouldn't pay for it, because they said it was a surgery.
Medical insurance wouldn't pay for it, because it was a dental procedure.
I got a bill for $3000 and three months to pay it off (on my $500/week salary).

And around and around we go...

[LynzM]

25. Oh, kimmy, I'm sorry

That sucks, dude :( :hug:

[Horse with no Name]

19. My insurance refuses to pay for my stomach medicine

I have been having extreme stomach pain. Honestly, I was terrified that I had stomach cancer.
Had an EGD, stomach is covered with polyps.
That is what is causing the pain.
There really isn't a medication for that since it isn't that common, but doc prescribed Nexxium.
Insurance doesn't cover it because it is for esophageal reflux and it will only pay for Grade 2 erosion of the esophagus.
Problem is, I had surgery several years ago to correct severe reflux...so what used to be in my esophagus is now in my stomach because the Nissen keeps it out of the esophagus.
So it needs the same medication and...if these polyps were in my esophagus...they would cover it.
I can't afford the medication every month. Doc says it is the only medicine that will take care of the problem so I just live with the pain.

[LynzM]

27. I'm so sorry.

That really sucks, dude. :hug: Have you tried contacting the company that makes the Nexxium? Sometimes they have programs to provide meds when they're not affordable.

[Horse with no Name]

29. Well...I'm a "dudette"

:D
I haven't contacted them.
I have a job and I have insurance.
I COULD pay for it if I figured something out.
I think these drug programs are great--however, I'd rather save them for folks who have NO means.

[Red State Rebel]

20. I Was Obese - Then Because I had Weight Loss Surgery

They would not insure me because I was over 100 lbs. overweight. I self paid to have Weight Loss Surgery and lost the weight, then they didn't want to cover me because I had the surgery :)

Figure that one out....

[LynzM]

28. That's ridiculous.

You do what you need to do, out of pocket, to get in better health, and *then* they refuse to cover you?! :banghead: Man, I'm using that emoticon a lot on this thread...

[AuntPatsy]

26. My son in low was denied health care for his asthma, they said it was a pre existing condition..

they are fighting it right now, its pretty stupid.

[dysfunctional press]

31. not denied, but dropped after being diagnosed with a disabling condition...

our payment due date kept getting shifted, and we were dropped when a payment came in one day late.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

32. My wife is pregnant

My wife is currently pregnant, covered under her own employer health plan. I was applying to BCBS for an individual plan (my employer is too small for group coverage). Everything was fine when I was applying over the phone, until the agent asked if anyone in my family was pregnant. I said, actually my wife is pregnant, but she's covered under her own plan, and the baby would be covered under her plan, too. The agent tells me that doesn't matter, BCBS "as a policy" does not cover you if your spouse is pregnant because according to them, in the event she gets dropped from her plan, they would be obligated to cover the baby, and they don't want to do that.

Total BS.

So currently I'm still under a BCBS temporary plan until my daughter arrives next month when I can finally get full health insurance.

[Cleita]

34. I was denied because I honestly admitted that I had asthma.

It doesn't flare up that often and I control it with inhalers but instead of making an exclusion for asthma related medical expenses on my insurance policy, which they could have done, they denied me the whole thing causing me to fall into the category of the uninsured. This was when I realized that people who were the sick ones were the ones who needed health care and health care coverage, not just the healthy ones the insurance companies wanted to cover.

[alfredo]

39. My wife has reoccurring brain tumors, she was accepted, but I had

one crohn's flare up years ago and I was denied.