Health Insurance - Best Way to Get Insurance with Pre-existing Conditions

I have private insurance. I am sure each case is different and the insurance companies decide things based on a many things I"ll never understand, but here's my experience. I have found that persistence is the key with private insurance...call them daily if need be. My pre-existing condition made them originally decline my insurance, but I simply appealed the decision. It took time and a lot of phone conversations, but I was finally accepted. They just won't cover any medical expenses regarding my pre-existing condition (which I can live with). Since I dropped my insurance to get on my hubby's so we could have baby number 2, I had to go through this ordeal twice with two separate companies. ( The only issue that I have ever had is them blaming an unrelated illness on my pre-existing condition and attempting to decline my claim. Fortunately, the doctor's office helped me a great deal and the $2000 I owed became $200.) GL!

Maybe try do a Google Search on "State Funded health insurance California."
Many options will come up.

Here is one of the links for example:
http://www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov/Home/default.aspx

Good luck,
Susan

Some states have chosen to adopt the law immediately and some insurance companies are voluntarily complying now.

New laws prohibit denying you coverage for preexisting conditions. Not sure in your state if that is effective yet. The common practice is to approve you for insurance, but put a VERY high deductible on anything you have previously been treated for. That essentially excludes coverage for that condition. It's a mean technicality to get out of covering what you need covered. So, when you are shopping for insurance, be sure they aren't going to put a "Condition Specific" deductible on your preexisting conditions. The policy may have a $1,000 deductible. But if you disclose that you had a gall stone 5 yrs ago, they will put a $25,000 deductible on anything remotely near the gallbladder! Another big one is a lot of companies have waiting periods on womens services. Cruel, right? There may be a 1 yr waiting period for a pap, a mamagram, etc. I would say call your local car inisurance agent and ask if they have anyone they can refer you to. You can also go to an insurance broker. They deal with several differant companies and can find you the best for your situation.

How is your business set up? You and your husband can be two employees if you set your business up as a legal entity such as LLC or Corporation. Then you guys are both officers of the company and therefore count as two employees and small business plans have guarantee issue (that's how my company was originally set up and didn't have trouble with pre-existing conditions from the insurance company). Good luck!

One of the keys is having continuation of coverage. Do not drop your husband's employer's insurance until you have a plan and have been accepted. Where a pre-existing condition hurts and really gives issues is when you have a lapse in coverage.

Another thing you might check into is there are , for lack of a better term, co-ops where small businesses come together to form a large group for insurance plans/rates through a group administrator. I don't know what their requirements are but this sounds like it would be the right place for you and there is a large group like that here in California.

J. - updated info- try Cal Choice https://www.calchoice.com/Home.aspx. See what they can help you get!

Good luck! T.

hm...too bad those laws prohibiting insurance companies from denying health insurance doesn't go into effect until 2014 :( too bad it's not now...i'm in the same boat.

I highly recommend that you talk to Lisa Miles, who does healthy insurance for individuals and businesses. Here's her contact info:

Lisa Miles
###-###-####
____@____.com

I just added my husband to my companies insurance and we have a 6 month waiting period. It's all so confusing at times...good luck to you.

Hi J.,

My husband and I area also in the same family, but since we both count as employees of our self-employed business, we qualify for corporate rates, no pre-existing conditions excluded. (And I would have had such a condition if we'd had to do private insurance.) Please feel free to call my agent, Don Hulser, at ###-###-####, email ____@____.com can work miracles for you!