Pre existing medical condition
 

Just curious about this.. how many people have run into problems with insurance refusals after coming to canada with a medical conditions that the NHS was treating due to its pre existing nature?

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

For an employee program, no , no questions asked at all. As long as you sign up at the start of your eligibility period ( mine was after 6 months).

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

I agree with Zoe. For a company sponsored group benefits scheme the insurer cannot decline anyone who joins within the time frame of the scheme rules. This is usually within one month of completing your probationary period.

In a pooled scheme the insurer sets the rates based on actuarial models. In an individual company scheme the rates are based on the previous year's claims. The insurer does not lose out. If they take on someone who is sickly and makes lots of claims they just charge the company(ies) more.

Private insurance is completely different and they will routinely decline to cover pre-existing conditions.

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

they wont decline you joining.....but just start claiming $100's of dollars a month worth of (in our case) insulin/diabetic supplies then you will get a letter asking when the condition was taken by the person etc!!! cost the insurance company $5 a day just to prick his finger to check his blood sugar!!

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

I voted for the company plan, but before I had insurance through my employer we had Blue Cross who also covered my pre-existing condition. I don't think they asked any questions, but we joined that about 4 years ago so don't really remember :o

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

I've just checked with a diabetic collegue here ( diagnosed before she worked here)
no questions , no problems with coverage

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

Who is your plan provider, out of "name and shame" curiosity?

Your experience sucks if you ask me... commiserations.

Ive a feeling that my plan in similar circumstances would max out and then a second benefit program would kick in to take up the slack, but you would have to spend several grand on medication to qualify.

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

Ah, but was she covered by insurance with someone else when diagnosed, that could be the difference?

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

thank you.....you're getting it!!!

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

Or could the difference be that Monique's husband is covered by a plan from a US employer?

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

I've a company benefit plan that I've never had any call to use, so I checked the policy wording. There's no mention of pre-existing conditions, nor a list of excluded drugs (Manulife)

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

Think it has to be a canadian insurance carrier to be legal in Canada, but could be wrong?

Presumably there is some level of provincial legislation framework for what insurers can and cant do anyway?

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

this all happened when he worked in Canada for 7 years.....he has only worked in the US for the last 3....

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

It almost certainly says something along the lines of drugs must be approved by health canada (at a minimum), no experimental treatments etc etc..

Re: Pre existing medical condition
 

Sure, just no list of licenced drugs/treatments that won't be accepted if claimed for.