mean insurance people

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Wow, I have never in my life felt so discriminated against or attacked for my epilepsy as I did yesterday. We own a very small family construction business and are searching for a new health insurance policy for the business. I have been assigned with the task of finding an affordable quality policy for my husband & I, my brother-in-law, and my mother & father-in-law which would be the only ones on the policy, we have no other employees. I have been contacting insurance companies and I have been very honest and up-front with all the sales people that I talk to telling them that I do have epilepsy and the other 4 on the policy are quite healthy. My COBRA will be running out in a few months but I don't want the rest of my family to have to pay out the rear just because of my illness. I have told my family already that if it's my fault that the premiums are extremely high I will go without insurance for a while or try to find a high-risk pool but of course I would much rather have good policy from a good company.

Anyway, like I said I am honest and up-front with the insurance companies and ask that if I fill out an application but see that the premium is too high with me on it and decide not to take it, will the company still be charged as if I were on it knowing that there is a high risk person in the family. Most companies and representatives that I have spoken to have been understanding and helpful, until yesterday. I was speaking with a representative from a major insurance company, I told him the situation, and he basically verbally attacked me. I've dealt with rude people in my life but this guy topped them all. He told me that "why on earth would I want to insure your company when you'll just screw the system and snake your way on to the policy in a few months and how can we make a profit with thieving people like you finding loopholes and screwing this company out of money. Now we can't even deny people like you" And remember, this guy is a SALES person; needless to say he didn't make the sale! I'm one of those people that would normally yell at someone and tell them where to go for saying these things to me but I was so astounded and hurt by his words that I was just speechless.

Actually after I got off the phone with this guy I did the math and the $35,000 or so that our company would pay in premiums is still a LOT more than the maybe $7000 that I would cost them each year.

I'm not trying to "screw the system" or find any loopholes. I've always carried insurace except for a year when I was in college and couldn't afford it and paid my premiums. I am happy to pay a reasonable insurance premium as long as they'll pay what they're supposed to like for me to see my doc once or twice a year and give me some good prescription coverage.

I'm learning to live with my epilepsy but I did not ask for it, I didn't do anything wrong that would cause it. It didn't appear until 5 years ago and until then I was relatively healthy. I just need the help from the insurance companies that I've paid all of my life. The job I had until last year shut down so all I have left is my COBRA. I'm not eligible for government assistance because I'm not pregnant and have no children and my husband makes just above poverty limit. We work hard, my husband works 15 hours a day, I take care of his business and on the days that I can and am not violently seizing I look for jobs. We pay our bills and have never asked for a handout.

I just can't understand that in this free and civilized country we allow our citizens to die every day because they can't get their meds or see the doctors they need to see just because they're not wealthy enough. It's disgusting.

Comments

Re: mean insurance people

Submitted by Jk606 on Tue, 2010-09-28 - 22:16

I am sorry this has happened to you. If I were you, I would call that company back and ask to talk to that sales rep's supervisor and tell the supervisor your experience. You do not have to put up with that, and that sales rep should not get away with it.

Insurance is frustrating. I worked for a small company and they wanted to give health insurance to all the employees, I sat and had a one on one with the insurance rep and explained to him my medical situation. I thought our conversation was confidential, but he decided to tell my boss and then my boss preceded to tell all of my co-workers about me having epilepsy. Then my boss basically told me I was not elgible for health insurance through the company. What hurt most of all was one of my co-workers (who just happens to have a sister that has epilepsy) told me flat out that it wasn't fair that I get insurance because everyone would have to pay higher premiums because of me. Lets just say I did not get health insurance or did I stay long at that company. What hurt most was these people made me feel like there was something wrong with me and that it was all my fault I had epilepsy.

My next job was another small family owned business, they were so understanding, they paid for all the employees premiums. I was so scared to fill out the insurance form when you have to check that box "pre-exsisting conditions", I practically had a panic attack. However, the HR rep at my job was very understanding, and believe it or not, their premiums did not go up when I was added onto their insurance (I would know I was the bookeeper there).

I hope you find a company that understands and works with you and not against you, maybe call your local epilepsy center and see if they can recommend insurance companies.

Take care!!

I am sorry this has happened to you. If I were you, I would call that company back and ask to talk to that sales rep's supervisor and tell the supervisor your experience. You do not have to put up with that, and that sales rep should not get away with it.

Insurance is frustrating. I worked for a small company and they wanted to give health insurance to all the employees, I sat and had a one on one with the insurance rep and explained to him my medical situation. I thought our conversation was confidential, but he decided to tell my boss and then my boss preceded to tell all of my co-workers about me having epilepsy. Then my boss basically told me I was not elgible for health insurance through the company. What hurt most of all was one of my co-workers (who just happens to have a sister that has epilepsy) told me flat out that it wasn't fair that I get insurance because everyone would have to pay higher premiums because of me. Lets just say I did not get health insurance or did I stay long at that company. What hurt most was these people made me feel like there was something wrong with me and that it was all my fault I had epilepsy.

My next job was another small family owned business, they were so understanding, they paid for all the employees premiums. I was so scared to fill out the insurance form when you have to check that box "pre-exsisting conditions", I practically had a panic attack. However, the HR rep at my job was very understanding, and believe it or not, their premiums did not go up when I was added onto their insurance (I would know I was the bookeeper there).

I hope you find a company that understands and works with you and not against you, maybe call your local epilepsy center and see if they can recommend insurance companies.

Take care!!

Re: mean insurance people

Submitted by T Davis on Mon, 2010-10-11 - 23:22

Hi Everyone!

I've only been a member for about 9 weeks now, and what a blessing to have found this site. It's really helping me understand a lot more than I even knew...if that makes sense.

I continue to read all about those who don't have health insurance and I don't know why it surprises me, I lived without insurance for a very long time. I didn't get treatment for my E because I had no insurance coverage (that and I didn't want to live in reality).... the ol'~ pre-existing condition issue.

I hope this can help someone! With help from a dear friend of mine I was able to get accepted to an insurance plan that covers pre-existing. Some of you may already be familiar with this, because I believe most states have this or something close to it, HIP FED plan. So, I live in Iowa and it's HIP Iowa FED. This plan is for people with pre-existing conditions (high risk pool). I'm guessing most of us fall into this category of diagnosis, now if you've been diagnosed with something that's already one the list, and meet a few other requirements it will automatically get you in the door, but Epilepsy is not on that list (no surprise). So, the next route to take is to have a letter of rejection from an insurance company, which I was able to get. Then I had to fill out the application for my state plan, which only accepts the first 1000 qualified applicants. For me, between migraines, epilepsy, allgeries and so on...I was too big of a risk. Now, I would think all conditions for all 50 states within the US would be the same, but please don't hold me to it, and this may not be active in all states. As i mentioned, there are some requirements too ~ as far as being a US resident, the length you've been without insurance, etc., BUT this is totally worth sharing and if it helps just one person!!

The monthly premiums are fair ~ After my allergy, epilepsy and migraine meds, I'm already saving the cost of my prescriptions easy in what I am paying for my monthly premium and my deductible I think was only $1000.00. Just to confirm, it could be different for each state. I am on the policy alone and my family has a seperate policy for themselves.

It's been a life saver for me b/c I was due for all my usual testing and my epilepsy has really intensified in the past two years. So much that I was almost non-functionable, had to resign from my job and I can no longer drive. Although I'm still there, I am making some progress.

Now someone may have already posted this information before, but I haven't seen it yet (or forgot :)

Also this may be a repost, but it never hurst to share again. I have found this site very helpful in savings, especially for migraine meds, but there are others listed as Keppra, Depakote, Lamictal, etc. Post the website later or send me a note, it's not allowing me to post it saying it's spam.....

Again, I hope this was helpful and thank you for letting me share and vent.

Hi Everyone! I've only been a member for about 9 weeks now, and what a blessing to have found this site. It's really helping me understand a lot more than I even knew...if that makes sense. I continue to read all about those who don't have health insurance and I don't know why it surprises me, I lived without insurance for a very long time. I didn't get treatment for my E because I had no insurance coverage (that and I didn't want to live in reality).... the ol'~ pre-existing condition issue. I hope this can help someone! With help from a dear friend of mine I was able to get accepted to an insurance plan that covers pre-existing. Some of you may already be familiar with this, because I believe most states have this or something close to it,  HIP FED plan.  So, I live in Iowa and it's HIP Iowa FED. This plan is for people with pre-existing conditions (high risk pool). I'm guessing most of us fall into this category of diagnosis, now if you've been diagnosed with something that's already one the list, and meet a few other requirements it will automatically get you in the door, but Epilepsy is not on that list (no surprise). So, the next route to take is to have a letter of rejection from an insurance company, which I was able to get. Then I had to fill out the application for my state plan, which only accepts the first 1000 qualified applicants. For me, between migraines, epilepsy, allgeries and so on...I was too big of a risk.<strong>  Now, I would think all conditions for all 50 states within the US would be the same, but please don't hold me to it, and this may not be active in all states. </strong> As i mentioned, there are some requirements too ~ as far as being a US resident, the length you've been without insurance, etc., BUT this is totally worth sharing and if it helps just one person!!  The monthly premiums are fair ~ After my allergy, epilepsy and migraine meds, I'm already saving the cost of my prescriptions easy in what I am paying for my monthly premium and my deductible I think was only $1000.00. Just to confirm, it could be different for each state. I am on the policy alone and my family has a seperate policy for themselves. It's been a life saver for me b/c I was due for all my usual testing and my epilepsy has really intensified in the past two years. So much that I was almost non-functionable, had to resign from my job and I can no longer drive.  Although I'm still there, I am making some progress. Now someone may have already posted this information before, but I haven't seen it yet (or forgot :) Also this may be a repost, but it never hurst to share again.  I have found this site very helpful in savings, especially for migraine meds, but there are others listed as Keppra, Depakote, Lamictal, etc. Post the website later or send me a note, it's not allowing me to post it saying it's spam.....  Again, I hope this was helpful and thank you for letting me share and vent.     