Many of you know my 44 yr. old son is on the transplant waiting list for a kidney and pancreas. He is very close to having to go on dialysis. He just got a letter from his insurance company that his policy will be canceled Dec. 31st! He has it through AARP Medicare Complete, Secure Horizsons, United Health (?). He is in Broward County FL. No reason was given for canceling. A friends of his also got the same letter. Was wondering if anyone in that area has heard anything?? He has been going around and around and meanwhile trying to find other insurance. Probably impossible with his pre-exisiting problems.
Anyway, thank you all for good, positive thoughts and prayers.
I will add your son to my prayer list. diabetist is also a very horrible disease cause you have trouble getting it under control. I have many friendes with this problem but they are older. 44 is so young to be having this problem. May God bless you and your son and be withe the Drs and nurses that care for him. Love aned Hugs, bill
He is looking into all possibilities of appeals, but I wonder if this entire policy is being canceled in that area. I haven't been able to find out anything further.
Vickie a dialysis center in Broward may give your son some help on the insurance issue even though he isn't there patient. Also-the Fl Insurance Commisioner may help. National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) will directly help consumers 202-624-7790 www.naic.org
Vickie, thoughts and prayers coming your way for dear son. My goodness, too young for such serious health problems. I know absolutely nothing about insurance coverages; maybe someone will come along that does. Please keep us posted on his condition. Hugs to you dear friend.
Also have him check with the state for a high risk pool insurance. They usually are designed for those with the high risk medical conditions where the traditional insurance is designed for purchase when you don't need it! PatB
Our family is acutely aware of the costs of transplant surgery and continuing treatments. Our Krissy has had two heart transplants prior to this time...and she's in her 7th week in Cardiac ICU waiting for a donor heart. Her medical expense to date is in the multi millions. The first heart transplant 17 years ago topped 1.5 million...and she has had multiple health problems w/ulcers, gall bladder, periodontal (from the anti rejection drugs) and the list goes on.
Vickie, I'm so sorry for all your son is having to go through withthe darned insurance companywhen he's not feeling well to begin with. Someone here said recently that we don't need health care reform, we need Health Insurance Reform and that is so true. It's just crazy. Is there a patient/client advocacy that can talk with the insurance companies. This definitely should be reported to AARP, since they simply endorse their products and services. I cannot believe their policy is being cancelled..just out of the blue without an explanation! Wow!
I was told at many advocacy meetings to go to the top. Cut through all the red tape and take your case to your Washington representatives and Senator Nelson and Senator New Guy (the one who took Martinez's place - Lemieux). Considering the debate going on in DC now over the health care and insurance issues, they will want to hear your story. Don't hesitate - call them and be a pest until you get results.
I'm looking for the name and phone number of Senator Nelson's administrative aide - I can't find it, but I'll keep looking. I met him when I was at the DC forum.
We have friends whose insurance is also being cancelled Des. 31st. Their's is a Medicare Advantage plan and apparently these plans are being phased out. Some new government regulations?
I think AARP Medicare Complete is a Medicare Advantage plan.
there may be some regulations as to if he has no LAPSE in coverages= his pre existing condition wont affect him applyng for another policy with another company. i think preexisting only comes into play if you have lapses without coverages (ie like 30days or so but it varies)in between policies but i would definately followup and call AARP and see if another plan is being offered to replace the one phased out. tell him to start now looking! and yes with all the insurance coverage cancellations i would think even the media would be interested in his story. prayers for you and yours vickie. divvi
Don't know if this is relevant or not but when I was at my doctor's office last week the lady checking in next to me had a Medicare Advantage plan and the girl behind the desk told her they were no longer accepting that coverage and that it did not cover a flu shot anyway...
I am not an expert on insurance but as I understand it as soon as your kindneys actually fail and dialysis starts, you are automatically qualified for full Medicare. Regardless of your age and certainly pre-existing condition.
Dialysis is NOT FUN and certainly nothing to look forward to, but if there is any silver lining it MIGHT fix his insurance problem.
At a ladies meeting Friday one of the women said she'd received a letter that day saying her Secure Horizons policy was being canceled. Our guest speaker is a counselor for SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) from our local hospital. They answer questions about Medicare, Supplements, Advantage programs, long term care financing options, Medicare Part D and Rx coverage and low-income assistance. All states have the free info program; so those interested might "google" or contact hospitals. Speaker, however, was not aware of Secure Horizons' letter to customers and made a copy. So if advantage plans are being canceled, that's another health care alternative biting the dust; and I assume other premiums will rise as companies add former advantage consumers to their plans.
Medicare Advantage plans cost the government a good bit more per person than regular medicare. Whereas many of us on Medicare have mediGAP supplements, which WE pay for, those in the Advantage plans have some of those benefits payed by the government. So the payments to the Advantage plans will likely be scaled back, whatever happens to the health plan as a whole. People won't be kicked off their insurance, though, just into plain Medicare, as I understand it. And then they could buy medigap insurance.
Vickie, so sorry to hear of your troubles and wishing the best for your son. I agree with divvi. My understanding is the only way insurance can refuse to cover pre-existing conditions is if there has been a lapse in coverage.