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Originally Posted by Boomer
(Please pay attention. Pre-existing conditions are on the chopping block, now with Covid as an additional bonus possible for insurance companies.)
It is highly possible, that in the near future, insurance companies -- again -- will be allowed to use pre-existing conditions as their right to deny coverage.
If insurance companies are awarded the unconscionable power to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions, it is not a big leap of the imagination to think that having had Covid 19 could be termed a pre-existing condition.
Why do I think that could happen? — because we do not understand where this virus can take us. But we do know that Covid 19 can sometimes leave very serious, and possibly chronic, health problems in its wake — even after supposed recovery.
I realize that most Villagers are comfortably swaddled in Medicare or good coverage from military retirement or previous employers. But, even so, in this time of overwhelming distraction, it is important to stay informed of what is playing out behind the front-and-center chaos.
Gen X and Millennials and younger boomers who get the virus and recover could find themselves saddled with a pre-existing condition — forever— just for having had the virus — even though nothing else has shown up — yet — after recovery.
Maybe I am overthinking this. Gee, could insurance companies ever even consider reaching into such a pot of gold as Covid recovery as an excuse to deny coverage.
No matter where your loyalties lie, no matter whether you have any younger people in your life to love, please pay attention, stay informed — from a variety of sources.
The ultimate decision to protect or to take away the individual’s right to not be denied health insurance coverage due to a pre-existing condition is in the works — with powerful support to take away that right.
Be careful what you wish (wished?) for.
Cassandra Boomer
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Requiring companies to insure people with preexisting conditions has only been since the Affordable Care Act began. Before then, companies weren’t required to accept them, usually. (The big exception was in employment that came with insurance.) This was VERY expensive for those with pre-existing conditions, but we didn’t hear about it much, or we just turned away. Getting rid of that requirement was something that half the people in the country voted for, however, in 2016. That requirement is very expensive. Now that we have experienced it, however, we don’t want to give it up because we realize that we could be in a position to need that coverage.
It comes down to what is the insurance pool. Should it include everyone who pays, or should it exclude those we know will have a lot of expenses? Imagine if, say, you have diabetes, and your insurance is quadruple the price of your neighbor who has the good sense to come down with diabetes after he signs up. Imagine deciding to go without insurance because $20,000 a year is more than you can afford, but knowing that this may be a death sentence. We are right to think about this and be concerned. Even among the retired, there are plenty who get Medicare Part A but can’t afford Part B. They take the risk and hope they don’t get sick until the day they die.