Plea from Fellow Agent

[jimsthename]

I am a life / health agent in Illinois, though I focus primarily on life.

I have an important question for you saged health insurance agents.

I have Crohn's Disease and am looking for an insurance carrier. My sympton's are very mild. I was diagnosed with the disease over 20 years ago, and have been taking maintence drugs ever since without flare-up. Compared to the severe symptons that others face, I am indeed lucky.

However when it comes to obtaining decent health care I am up a creek. I have applied with only a few carriers and have been denied. Currently, I have a plan with Mega, but of course Crohn's has been excluded.

I am seeking recommendations on the best companies to apply. And I'm not thinking I will find a carrier that will insure my Crohn's (but wouldnt that be great), just the best possible coverage.

I would prefer to be the writing agent, but am most motivated to find the best coverage.

Please help and thanks

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

Hi Jim

Unfortunately, I don't know Il. I wish I could help you.

By the way...you probably don't need this post in the "Health Reform" section since it is already in the "Individual Health" section.

Good luck.

 

[Josh]

Hi Jim

Unfortunately, I don't know Il. I wish I could help you.

By the way...you probably don't need this post in the "Health Reform" section since it is already in the "Individual Health" section.

Good luck.

Maybe that's an argument that reform should happen.

 

[CHUMPS FROM OXFORD]

As long as it's the right kind of reform!

 

[stuy119]

Jim, I'm in IL as well. I hate to say it, but you're pretty much screwed. There are no major carriers (Aetna, BCBS, Humana, UHC, Assurant) that are accepting cases with Crohn's at this point.

Check the IL high-risk plan. It's with BCBS, but the rates aren't terrible if you're under 50.

 

[TXINSURANCE]

Maybe that's an argument that reform should happen.

It would be a poor argument, particularly when everyone's rates would go up 400% or more (note NJ and NY)

GI is a failure, IL has a Risk Pool plan - which is where you should be outside of a group plan.

The mega plan, well you can make your own determination of that "coverage"

 

[Cali man]

Try manulife

 

[bsdavis]

You might try insuring yourself in "segments"

CI/Cancer plan and/or Accident Expense Plan to supplement a risk pool or "mega" option

-Brian

 

[Josh]

It would be a poor argument, particularly when everyone's rates would go up 400% or more (note NJ and NY)

Reform doesn't have to mean gi. You'd have a hard time finding someone who thinks gi is more ridiculous than I do. It causes far more problems than it fixes.

 

[jimsthename]

Thank you all for the recommendations. As I expected, not really any place to go with my Crohn's.

Placing this post under health care reform was actually an oversight, but now i see that it very relevant to the topic.

I do contend that if anyone is against health care reform, there is an excellent chance that they are NOT on the short end of the healthcare stick.

Because I don't have coverage, I'm forced into short-sighted decisions like putting off colonoscopies, skipping doctor visits, holding off on blood work and cutting back on my medication doses. It is very real. and I know that I'm rolling the dice. I've got 2 kids in college, so I do what I have to do...and so far, so good. But, heaven help me if my condition ever worsens.

Thanks for letting me share the human side to hc reform.