My husband got a call from our Insurance broker yesterday. We have a small company with only 3 employees.Only our family and my Sister's family are insured.
We recently had to go through a renewal process-have had this insurance for about 3 years. When they called yesterday, they said our premiums would go up 600%!
My stunned husband asked if she knew that meant our yearly premium would be 4 million dollars. She stammered a little and said maybe there was a mistake. I'm thinking they meant 60%, which still would be very bad for us, making it over $50,000 per year for our 2 families.
We really cant afford that. I am really fighting with my husband who wants to go with Kaiser now. I am lucky right now that my LLMD takes our insurance, but of course doesnt take Kaiser.
We cant afford to pay my LLMD out of pocket and my 2 kids are in the process of being tested. OK, done with my rant now, thanks for listening. Cindy
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
Yikes!!!!! I couldn't afford that if I wanted to.
Is it possible there was some mistake as the young lady you spoke with didn't seem to really know what she is talking about?
There are other insurance brokers who would be happy to take your money.
Have you tried someone else?
I'm sorry that your family has been put in this very difficult financial position. As if being ill is not enough.
It is a crime that in the US we have to spend this kind of money for health insurance while immigrants get free health care.
Will be praying for you and your family.
Please keep us posted.
Geneal
Posted by stymielymie (Member # 10044) on :
HAVE HUSBAND CALL INSURANCE COMMISION THERE IS A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT THEY CAN RAISE YOUR RATES.
YOU MAY HAVE TO JOIN A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND USE THERE GROUP INSURANCE. THATS HOW I BOUGHT MINE FOR MY OFFICE
SINGLE COVERAGE IS VERY EXPENSIVE , BUT GROUP IS LOWER, BECAUSE THE RISK OF GETTING SICK IS SPREAD OVER MANY COMPANIES.
BE VERY CAREFUL BEFORE YOU SWITCH, MANY COMPANIES MAY NOT TAKE YOU BECAUSE OF A PREEXISTING CONDITION CLAUSE.
BE VERY CAREFUL OF THIS AND HAVE POLICY SIGNED IN WRITING PRIOR TO SWITCHING.
DOCDAVE
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I have heard of this before as a way to drop people- I xerox what DocDave said- would also check with your states insurance commission on this one!!!!!!!!!! Be very careful!!!!!!! Best wishes, Sarah
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I'm so sorry to hear this, Cindy. I know how devastated you must be! I'll be praying for a quick solution to this for you and your family!
Sounds like you've been given some good advice.
Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :
This is EXACTLY what they did to me and as a result I lost my insurance. Wouldnt have made a difference IF I could have afforded it another year. they would just keep raising the absolute maximum till they outstripped my income. They got there.
Thye had the odacity to tell the insurance agant a long time ago when they called to appeal their denial of treatment,,,"He shouldnt blame US for the denial,,,We HAD to deny it so the other people in HIS group's premiums stayed LOW!!(Like what is THEIR def. of LOW???)
They were like around 900 bucks for an individul(just me), I dropped them,or couldnt pay for it any more,whichever you prefer when they went to $1200. If I wouldnt have it would have been $1500-1800 the next year!! They werent covering anything anyway,,,do to their NEW policy they came out with!!
Do as stated tho,,,before any switching,,,make sure you have the policy issued and in writting. Most times with ANY history, no one wants us!!
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
Just a note on Kaiser - I had Kaiser when I first got Lyme and they and their hired doctors refused to consider I had Lyme when my legs gave out even though I had documented history of a tick bite and bull's-eye rash just a month and a half prior to collapsing.
I had 4 weeks of amoxicillin after the bite and they thought that was plenty and that I should be "over" Lyme.
They sent my bloodwork to Utah from Maryland for Lyme testing. Of course, everything was negative.
I went "out-of-network" begging for help and all the clueless ducks asked Kaiser what they thought about my condition rather than thinking for themselves. Kaiser told them all that I was an attention-seeker with conversion disorder and to not listen to me.
They delayed my treatment for 6 months (until I found an LLMD) and I have been seriously ill ever since.
When my Kaiser doctor removed the tick from my abdomen she told me she would have it tested for Lyme. I later found out that all Kaiser did was verify it was a deer tick and then threw it away.
Kaiser does NOT look out for its patients and I would never recommend them to anyone.
Posted by hopeful123 (Member # 3244) on :
good luck Posted by clpgotlyme (Member # 7875) on :
Thanks everyone for your helpful and supportive replies. If we change companies I will be sure to get everything in writing.
I will tell my husband about the insurance comission and about the bad review of Kaiser treatment. I am not the only one driving up our rates.
My brother-in-law has had several surgeries on knees and shoulders and my daughter had scoliosis surgery. Also both my nieces have heart conditions. We really arent good risks!
We hope to hear soon what the actual increase will be. I wish I were well enough to get a full time job in a big company, but its not happening any time soon!Maybe I'll start playing the lottery..... Cindy
Posted by meg (Member # 22) on :
I agree, Kaiser is terrible at anything medical.
Posted by Ruth Ruth (Member # 11059) on :
You would think Kaiser would be highly motivated to prevent something like this from becoming chronic. The bottom line should kick in at some point!
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
cindy, that's highway robbery. i feel for you all.
yes, contact your state's INSURANCE COMMISSION! i'm still working with mine now to get reimbursements from bcbs for lyme dr. visits, extensive body lab testings done.
i was reimbursed last weekend for 5 of 6 compounded pharmacy meds; they couldn't find my 6th; so i sent that in monday.
document everything:
date, time, WHO you talked with; I TYPE UP THEIR COMMENTS AS WE TALK; it;s faster and legible! that intimidates them! I've submitted 20 pages of documented conversations with iowa insurance commission along with 300 pages of medical reports, etc.
file, SAVE OFTEN, and make a BACK UP COPY of all this important documentation! good luck. Posted by MagicAcorn (Member # 8786) on :
Good luck.
Posted by lymedesign (Member # 8791) on :
In the state of New Jersey, you can switch insurance coverage from one company to another with all pre-existing conditions as long as there is not a lapse in coverage of more than 60 days. ( I may have this length too long, may be 30 days). I just did this with my daughter and they Knew she had lyme and it is the law that they have to cover you.
[ 16. February 2007, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: lymedesign ]
Posted by clpgotlyme (Member # 7875) on :
Nope, nothing yet since we resent application. I am praying that no news is good news!Thanks for thinking about me. Cindy
Posted by clpgotlyme (Member # 7875) on :
Update: The cheapest premium we could find anywhere is to renew our current plan at $3600/month for our 2 families.
The only good thing is that it is an excelent plan and I have never had any part of Lyme treatment denied.
As to how we will pay for college for older daughter next year, not sure.Luckily, she is being considered for a full scholorship at a private school.
It is not however her first choice right now. I wish I could get back to work, but I am sliding back a bit right now with terrible headaches. Was in ER yesterday with one.It's always something! Hugs, Cindy
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
wow $ 3600 MONTH!! 2 families; are many are in your plan? glad you got some news finally. Posted by clpgotlyme (Member # 7875) on :
Betty, The problem is my husband and brother-in-law are partners with only 1 other employee. All of our other quotes were over $5,000/month.
We each have 2 children. I am not the only one raising our rates. My BIL has has 4 joint surgeries in past 5 years and his daughters both have heart valve defects that will need replacement.
I still need to get results of older daughters Lyme test and to have younger one (who I was pregnant with during tick bite) tested.Cant wait to see what our rates will be next year! Cindy
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
cindy, thanks for explaining about the high health insurance rates an family members. hope you are able to find the best affordable plan for you all.
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