by Guest » Fri Nov 30, 2007 04:09 pm
I recently switched jobs from a big company to a small one with no group insurance. In trying to get a policy for myself (I was looking for a HDHP with an HSA) I am being told no over and over again due to my weight.
I am 35, non smoker, no pre-ex conditions, my last physical was just in October and everything great except my fat a$$. BMI currently 40ish.
Am I uninsurable until I lose that weight? If I lose that weight in a few months, get insurance, then gain it back (as I have 100s of times before) will I lose my insurance?
COBRA is WAY out of my budget, I just want some coverage in case I break a leg or something.
Any suggestions?
I am 35, non smoker, no pre-ex conditions, my last physical was just in October and everything great except my fat a$$. BMI currently 40ish.
Am I uninsurable until I lose that weight? If I lose that weight in a few months, get insurance, then gain it back (as I have 100s of times before) will I lose my insurance?
COBRA is WAY out of my budget, I just want some coverage in case I break a leg or something.
Any suggestions?
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 04:22 pm Post Subject:
oh Ismation, I feel for you, this is a shame, almost discrimination to some point. You may want to contact your old insurance company and ask them if they have any leads as to where you can purchase insurance. alot of people are overwieght and live healthy, active lives, this just does not seem fair. Goodluck with this, hope it all works out for you.
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 07:24 am Post Subject:
I think you have got the one good reason to slim down. It is a hard truth but accept it…. the insurer can deny you coverage because you are obese.
Your weight clearly has an impact on your health. People with high BMI are prone to have complains with the heart diseases and high blood pressure which imply that the insurer is putting himself at a greater risk by insuring you.
However, accepting or declining your insurance proposal is purely an underwriting decision and the underwriting conditions vary widely with the insurance companies. Therefore, keep searching you will definitely find an insurer who will be ready to accept you. Best of Luck...
Rupert
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 08:22 am Post Subject:
Well my friend, a healthy normal individual should have his BMI standing between 18.5 and 25. And you must have understood that yours is lying much beyond the range. Although, you shouldn't be denied of health coverage for your weight but again this had happened with many before also. Many were denied health coverage because of their high BMI even though they were enjoying perfect health. I think, this way the insurers are trying to discourage people from gaining weight as obesity is a growing problem in the country. As Rupert has mentioned, an obese person is likely to develop problems related to heart and pressure. Not only that, an overweight adult may even develop cognitive problems.
Coming to your questions…
Am I uninsurable until I lose that weight?
Not exactly…but even though you find an insurer you may be asked to pay ridiculously high premium because of your weight.
If I lose that weight in a few months, get insurance, then gain it back (as I have 100s of times before) will I lose my insurance?
Well, it'll depend on your carrier. Your premium may increase or you may be asked to add some special riders to your policy in order to continue with the coverage.
By the way, have you tried with Blue Shield? You may get lucky with them. I too pray that you find an insurer soon but, well, the moral of the story is….. Your fat can cost you dear unless you have a fat pocket as well.
Regards,
Juanita
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 08:45 am Post Subject:
Hi Ismation, you can also calculate your BMI yourself with the BMICalculator available in this site.
Regards,
Juanita
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 11:24 am Post Subject:
Goodluck, I hope you find an affordable insurance soon.
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:27 pm Post Subject: Thanks
I know I need to lose the weight, being this big is no secret to anyone, myself included. I have been overweight my entire life, and the solution is NOT a quick fix "drop some pounds so you can get insurance" and frankly I am annoyed that that is the solution (not from anyone here, I mean in general).
I think the worst part is that because I can not afford insurance, if something DOES happen to me, I will have to go to the county hospital and my bill then becomes a problem of the state or county to pay. I have never NOT paid a bill, but what choice is the system leaving me while I struggle alone to lose 35 years of baggage, both physical and emotional? It will take me 50 weeks to lose enough weight (at a healthy pace of 2 pounds a week) to get my BMI in range - an entire YEAR.
I think my main frustration comes from the fact that when I was with the big company, my insurance refused to pay for Meridia to help me lose weight, nor any other weight loss program, yet paid for my co-worker to have gastric bypass. What is the message there?
Maybe I'll start a group for uninsured overweight people and we'll get group coverage together.
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 04:11 am Post Subject:
I recently switched jobs from a big company to a small one with no group insurance. In trying to get a policy for myself (I was looking for a HDHP with an HSA) I am being told no over and over again due to my weight.
I am 35, non smoker, no pre-ex conditions, my last physical was just in October and everything great except my fat a$$. BMI currently 40ish.
Am I uninsurable until I lose that weight? If I lose that weight in a few months, get insurance, then gain it back (as I have 100s of times before) will I lose my insurance?
COBRA is WAY out of my budget, I just want some coverage in case I break a leg or something.
Any suggestions?
Ismation, nice to meet you. :)
I really wanted to try and help you find something suitable. it seems unfair for your weight to be held against you when it's not something that can be immediately remedied. As you say, a year's a long time to wait to be insured and having to just cross your fingers that nothing happens in between times.
Can I suggest that you look into Simple STM? I did some research and found medsave.com/articles/Review-of-Simple-STM.htm, this review of them which sounds like what you're looking for. In fact it uses the example of a broken bone as something it can cover you for.
Weight is not one of the questions they ask about regarding eligibility and it says that monthly premiums average around $50 a month for young adults.
The review is a pretty comprehensive one and it'd probably be worth taking the time to read the page in its entirety.
I'm not sure what state you're in but it's approved in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
(No approval in Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Maryland, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont at the time of the review.)
I hasten to add I'm not an insurance professional nor associated in any way with that site or company. I'm just a mom trying to help you out that doesn't mind learning and researching to do that.
I'm sure some of the experienced professionals here would be happy to look at the company and give you an opinion on whether it'd be a suitable type of insurance coverage for you. It's a stepping stone at least. :D
Good luck, Ismation, I hope you find what you need soon. Best of luck with the new job too!
*link deactivated as per the forums rules
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 09:30 am Post Subject:
Ismation! u can be insured. I second Juanita. Its just ur choice to pay high premium or not!!!!
Good Luck! If U r looking for one, send me a message!!!
:!: :?:
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 07:52 pm Post Subject:
goodluck with your goal to loose wieght and your search for good health insurance, I don't think it is right either. take care
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