I keep hearing and actually know of friends suffering from different types of mental health problems (typically bipolar, anxiety, depression) who pay cash eventhough they have health insurance or see a primary care physician over a pychiatrist and just get samples on the down-low to avoid insurance paper trails because they say it will be extremely difficult to get future health insurance or life insurance. How much truth is there to this? Is it worth the trouble to try to keep it discrete, doesnt it eventually get exposed anyhow through forums etc... when applying for health insurance?
Why would it be so difficult to gain health insurance or have more obstacles when it is just like any other chronic illness like diabetes, heart diseases, cholestoral, etc...
Anyone know of or have experience/knowledge of the insurance mumbo jumbo?
The current system is focked up. Pre-existing conditions must be disclosed on insurance applications. And I am not so sure you can "hide" your medical treatments - doctors "code" your situation, and a record is kept, and somebody else can fill us in, but there are ways this information is collected by insurance companies (the "Medical Information Bureau" or something like that).
Regardless, when you fill out an insurance app, you are required to list a complete history (illnesses, docs, etc) and you are asked to sign a release that allows the insurance company to talk to your doctor, check into your medical background, etc. Falsifying an application is a dumb thing to do - can lead to cancellation or worse, denial of claims.
We need to move to a system that insures all comers - not trying to ignite the endless debate on the merits of universal health care, but the current system of private and employment based insurance is stacked against the consumer in favor of the insurance company.
People who do not have employment based insurance, but have to go out and try to buy private coverage, are at a HUGE disadvantage - I have read that upwards of 80 percent of people applying for private insurance are denied coverage for pre-existing conditions, or they are offered ridiculously high premiums that effectively are a denial (examples of $3000 a month insurance premiums, for instance).
There has to be a better way...but lying about your medical history is not a good idea.