Yes, the pre-existing condition is:

a.) being female, and

b.) over 50.

That is some craaaaazy stuff. I thought it was bad when I had to sign a waiver for pregnancy. Who knew getting pregnant or menopause was not a normal condition of being human?

I guess male actuaries do, as neither ever happens to them. I'm beginning to wonder if they are human. This same sort of unfair sexist nonsense goes on with birth control pills and viagara.

I think I like Susan, quite a bit

While I doubt people will leave the medical insurance companies in droves, since private insurance is so cumbersome and difficult to get, a portion may leave since it costs so much and pays so little.

My own pre-existing condition of drug-managed high blood pressure raised my rates 50%, and they denied my daughter coverage (twice) for "seasonal allergies," so she has no coverage.

I had excellent medical coverage paid for out of my pocket because I could get a personal, individual policy with excellent coverage for less than $250 a month. And it was better than the company policy too!

Until I was 50.

Premiums shot up over $900 simply because of the generic health problems associated with generic population of individuals over 50 as a whole. I even sent a letter off to Harry Reid and all I got back was a generic letter talking around the subject of health care and related issues but nothing that specifically address my initial inquiry.

I'm of the opinion there's nothing a person can do as an individual to right a wrong when the criteria you are fighting against is the generic make up of the population as a whole. The odds are stack against you.

Also keep in mind, it's not the federal government responsibility...it's the State you live in...10th Amendment stuff is written all over health care at the state level and they're the guilty party as to why medical costs are out of control and premium prices are so high.

Of course, health care reform just passed by Congress left the States in the driver's seat with little necessary corrections to steer their state policies in the direction the federal government would like to to go.

I'm lucky health care in Europe is relatively inexpensive compared to costs in the states. I do take a financial hit exchanging dollars for euros, but the quality of individual care at my local doctor's office and prescription costs are easily manageable without using health care insurance.

So what kind of HCR would there be in the US if people could easily afford to see a doctor and pay for prescriptions whenever they are sick without having to do without food, shelter and other life necessities with a yearly income of $20,000?

I think you've summed it up nicely, Beetlejuice.
Thank you for pointing out not only the relevance of which state is pivotal in an individual's experience, but also for pointing out that the "new and improved" HRC does nothing to correct that wild card.
I'm glad for you that you are in Europe, though sorry that our economic woes are working to your detriment in the currency exchange.

Plenty of exceptions, no doubt.

=D

Thanks and right back at you. I appreciate you get the fact that I am trying my darndest to be fair.

It's the Federal interest rates being at zero percent that makes to dollar so cheap. Once it starts to rise, the exchange rate will get back to parity with the euro...1-to-1.

One thing I forgot to mention is my quote for medical attention by a local physician is extremely affordable while the costs for care at a hospital, such as surgery, would be hard to swallow..that's when you really do need health care insurance to cover your medical costs.

But the costs for surgery in a US hospital isn't pocket change either so it works out about the same. That's where I need health care coverage the most. Colds, fever, allergies and minor injuries and so forth aren't too expensive to handle with disposable income.

Just think how much more efficient the US medical service to the public would be if everyone could afford to see a doctor for life's minor inconveniences and it didn't force them to consider which bill not to pay.

Hey Flower --
My friend Susan has no more desire to die prematurely than any of the rest of us. But, on the other hand, the ongoing stress of trying to find the money to pay their usurious policy rate and deductibles, which is exponentially exacerbated by the stress of repeatedly dealing with adjuster insanity, just might cause her untimely demise by stroke... instead of "slowly turning green," as originally envisioned. (Note: "slowly turning green" is in quotes in deference to a friend of her mother's who once said, when asked why she was taking flying lessons at age 70: "Oh, I think it would be so much more elegant to crash than to slowly turn green, don't you?"

You are, of course, quite right about the tilting at windmills aspect of fighting the insurance monster. I said much the same to Susan, but she felt she had to write on protest, anyway, just to have done it.

I, on the other hand, have been busy being scanned for this and that, scheduling as much repair and maintenance done as I can get approvals for before my Cobra runs out in December. By December, if nothing is currently pinging the danger zone sonar, then I will do without health insurance until 2014. Because -- pardon the use of the word -- it is my only "option."
A private one, because the public one didn't happen. ;-)

Dear Ms. Rutledge:

We are in receipt of your letter to Ms. Templesman, our Claims Adjustment Supervisor, dated July 25, 2010. You are correct, menopause is a listed pre-existing condition. Pre-existing conditions are excluded from coverage.

We regret your decision to look for health insurance coverage elsewhere. We do want to continue to be helpful, however, so I have attached a list of all health insurers authorized to do business in Virginia.

I note that your current premium installment is 12 days past due. To insure that there is no gap in coverage, you will want to pay this overdue premium installment promptly. As you know, a coverage gap may result in additional pre-existing condition exclusions from your new insurer.

Sincerely,

Sarah Sowrong, Ass't to the Director
Customer Relations

Encl: Health Insurance Companies Authorized to Do Business in Viriginia

CC: Ms. Templesman

--

HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN VIRGINIA

1. Just Say No Health Insurance, Inc.
2. Market Rate Health Benefit Plans, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSNHI
3. Outta Pocket Health Care Corp., a majority-owned subsidiary of JSNHI

Funny, Red, but I have yet to experience an insurer who would not (at least) threaten to cancel insurance permanently if payment is not received by the first of the month.

And don't forget to submit your HIPPA form showing proof of no-gap medical insurance. Otherwise, the insurer will not pay any claims for a 12 month period, despite the thousands in premiums you paid just to be "included". Unbelievably, this is real, folks.

Dear Ms. SoWrong:

I just received your survey and will respond to it later this morning after I return from a dental appointment that may require us to discuss the "pre-existing condition" of having teeth.

Sincerely,

Susan Rutledge Ravenel

Ms. SoWrong:
In answer to your survey:
1) none of the above;
2) false,, but not for the reasons you offered;
3) Essay:
Why is it that JSNHI fails to answer a straightforward question, to wit: are you refusing to cover annual prostate exams for men who have had vasectomies?

JSNHI's failure to answer this question implies that, either:

a) the question is faulty; or,
b) the question is germane to the disparity between cost and coverage for men, versus cost and coverage for women.

I think the answer is B, which stands for JSNHI b*llsh*t. But that is just my opinion.

Sincerely,

Susan Rutledge Ravenel