View Poll Results: What was your experience?
Company benefit plan, covered OK. They didnt ask.
20
74.07%
Company benefit plan, covered OK. But they did ask.
0
0%
Company benefit plan, coverage refused.
0
0%
Private personal plan, covered OK. They didnt ask.
1
3.70%
Private personal plan, covered OK. But they did ask.
1
3.70%
Private personal plan, coverage refused.
3
11.11%
No coverage when I came here anyway.
2
7.41%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll
Pre existing medical condition
Jun 15th 2011, 7:59 pm
#31
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Pre existing medical condition
Thats something that really pisses me off. As far as Im concerned the benefits package is a consideration in salary negotiations when starting a job. I was furious that my employer could just unilaterally totaly change the nature of the benefits package without even any consultation. As far as I was concerned its was like them deciding unilaterally to pay me less. Even more pissed off that they dressed it up an an "enhancement" as we got more money for wigs!
Pissed off, but not enough to quit... chalk one up to HR walking the tightrope
Last edited by iaink; Jun 15th 2011 at 8:03 pm.
Jun 15th 2011, 8:40 pm
#32
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 318
Re: Pre existing medical condition
I didnt say it was cheap, but there are more expensive long term problems I suspect, heard disease/ blood pressure meds etc dont come cheap I hear, and far more expensive short term ones if you are unlucky enough to contract something quite rare.
It seems to me that although they said it would be an issue had he first been diagnosed in the UK, there is no actual direct anecdotal personal experience here (based on the poll so far) that anyone from the UK has actually been refused benefits when signing on with an employer plan?
That seems to include people with diabetes and with GWL, so maybe it was just someone trying to scare you or someone who was genuinely misinformed?
It seems to me that although they said it would be an issue had he first been diagnosed in the UK, there is no actual direct anecdotal personal experience here (based on the poll so far) that anyone from the UK has actually been refused benefits when signing on with an employer plan?
That seems to include people with diabetes and with GWL, so maybe it was just someone trying to scare you or someone who was genuinely misinformed?
blood pressure medication isn't that expensive tho!!
and they clearly told me if I didn't get a letter of (still can't remember wot its called) proving he has always been covered he wouldn't have been covered, think from memory tho don't think it was for ever, think it was for like 2 years, but as I say it wasn't an issue I had to resolve cos it wasn't an issue....
Jun 15th 2011, 9:40 pm
#33
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Pre existing medical condition
I need to vote twice but I can't.
Company benefit plan, covered OK. They didn't ask.
Private personal plan, covered OK. They didn't ask.
Company benefit plan, covered OK. They didn't ask.
Private personal plan, covered OK. They didn't ask.
Jun 15th 2011, 9:49 pm
#34
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Pre existing medical condition
We have a very disgruntled employee right now.
When he joined our company, many years ago, he declined the coverage for his family - I don't know why because it didn't cost him anything extra.
Unfortunately his wife became ill - and when he applied for coverage at a later date, the insurance company declined them coverage.
Truly unlucky, his child is also now ill and has also been declined.
Privately, I think his best bet is to leave us and go to a new employer who will not ask any questions. (Vocally, he feels we have failed to provide for his basic human rights.)
Although, of course, they may ask questions to check he didn't just switch for this benefit alone.
When he joined our company, many years ago, he declined the coverage for his family - I don't know why because it didn't cost him anything extra.
Unfortunately his wife became ill - and when he applied for coverage at a later date, the insurance company declined them coverage.
Truly unlucky, his child is also now ill and has also been declined.
Privately, I think his best bet is to leave us and go to a new employer who will not ask any questions. (Vocally, he feels we have failed to provide for his basic human rights.)
Although, of course, they may ask questions to check he didn't just switch for this benefit alone.
So I'm not sure why he seems to think he has been wronged.
Jun 15th 2011, 10:06 pm
#35
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Jun 15th 2011, 10:08 pm
#36
ModerĪ±tor Emeritus
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Posts: 30,768
Re: Pre existing medical condition
Why would anyone decline? Makes no sense. Even if the OH has their own benefits you should enroll in both if only so policy two can cover any gaps left by policy one?
Jun 16th 2011, 2:30 am
#38
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 771
Re: Pre existing medical condition
Mr Chookie has epilepsy - well controlled by drugs and no questions asked by his company insurance provider - they are more than happy to pay 85% of the cost of his anti-convulsant drugs (one of which is very expensive). He also has a knackered shoulder (due to repeated dislocations, 2 surgeries etc), and they pay for painkillers for that as well.
And as far as I am concerned I have back issues and several allergies that require medication/epipen... again, no problems with coverage - Mr Chookie's policy covers me, but my one with the NHPC would as well (mine only covers for 65% of costs though so I tend to use Mr Chookies instead as that is 85%)
And as far as I am concerned I have back issues and several allergies that require medication/epipen... again, no problems with coverage - Mr Chookie's policy covers me, but my one with the NHPC would as well (mine only covers for 65% of costs though so I tend to use Mr Chookies instead as that is 85%)
Jun 16th 2011, 2:55 am
#39
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Pre existing medical condition
Mr Chookie has epilepsy - well controlled by drugs and no questions asked by his company insurance provider - they are more than happy to pay 85% of the cost of his anti-convulsant drugs (one of which is very expensive). He also has a knackered shoulder (due to repeated dislocations, 2 surgeries etc), and they pay for painkillers for that as well.
And as far as I am concerned I have back issues and several allergies that require medication/epipen... again, no problems with coverage - Mr Chookie's policy covers me, but my one with the NHPC would as well (mine only covers for 65% of costs though so I tend to use Mr Chookies instead as that is 85%)
And as far as I am concerned I have back issues and several allergies that require medication/epipen... again, no problems with coverage - Mr Chookie's policy covers me, but my one with the NHPC would as well (mine only covers for 65% of costs though so I tend to use Mr Chookies instead as that is 85%)
Submit first to yours and what's not paid submit to hubby's. Perfectly acceptable with almost all plans. You should get all you money back.
Same with hubby's drugs submit to his first and what's not paid submit to yours.
Jun 16th 2011, 10:58 am
#40
Professional Cat herder
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: TORONTO- yay!!!
Posts: 5,707
Re: Pre existing medical condition
Ben gets a flat 80 % coverage( pay and reclaim)
I get my prescriptions filled and paid for , whatever I'm left to pay I keep the receipt and Ben claims the rest back
Jun 17th 2011, 12:36 am
#41
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 771
Re: Pre existing medical condition
I didn't actualy know you could do that... will do it next time!
Jun 17th 2011, 1:42 am
#43
Purpe80 in another life..
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 665
Re: Pre existing medical condition
I just wish that one of them had Orthodontic cover.
Jun 17th 2011, 4:04 am
#44
Meh
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 887
Re: Pre existing medical condition
I've had no problems with group coverage.
However when I went onto private coverage (Alberta Blue Cross) they declined to cover me for anything cardiac or intestinal related including any new problems that I didn't already have. I could have chosen to pay an amount equivalent to the cost of the meds I was taking at the time extra per month but they still wouldn't cover me for anything new in those 2 areas.
Same with the missus, nothing knee realted covered.
However when I went onto private coverage (Alberta Blue Cross) they declined to cover me for anything cardiac or intestinal related including any new problems that I didn't already have. I could have chosen to pay an amount equivalent to the cost of the meds I was taking at the time extra per month but they still wouldn't cover me for anything new in those 2 areas.
Same with the missus, nothing knee realted covered.
Jun 17th 2011, 4:24 am
#45
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: Pre existing medical condition
I've had no problems with group coverage.
However when I went onto private coverage (Alberta Blue Cross) they declined to cover me for anything cardiac or intestinal related including any new problems that I didn't already have. I could have chosen to pay an amount equivalent to the cost of the meds I was taking at the time extra per month but they still wouldn't cover me for anything new in those 2 areas.
Same with the missus, nothing knee realted covered.
However when I went onto private coverage (Alberta Blue Cross) they declined to cover me for anything cardiac or intestinal related including any new problems that I didn't already have. I could have chosen to pay an amount equivalent to the cost of the meds I was taking at the time extra per month but they still wouldn't cover me for anything new in those 2 areas.
Same with the missus, nothing knee realted covered.
When I went with the Alberta None Group plan administered by Alberta Blue Cross there were no questions asked. They covered everything I was taking at the time and there were never any questions about new drugs as they were added.
There was one drug (Plavix) which I have been taking since 2003 and after I had been with that plan for two years they said they would not reimburse me for any more for Plavix without a letter from my cardiologist. He provided the letter and they reinstated payment for it.