Insurance under HIPAA

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JADot
JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Guys:

I have a question for anyone who may have experience with insurance under HIPAA, preferably in CA, but other info are welcome too.

I am a month away from exhausting my COBRA coverage from a previous employer, so I am researching my insurance options for the future. After reading through all the HIPAA rules on pre-existing conditions several times, I am still not clear on exactly how they calculate the pre-existing condition period.

So if any of you have experience with a HIPAA based insurance, CA or otherwise, could you kindly give me a shout?

Thanks ahead!

Cheers,
JADot

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  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
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    I'll call my insurance broker guy today and see what he says...I'm in Calif, and I KNOW I ask him about this a long time ago...
    Hugs,
    Kathi
  • markatger
    markatger Member Posts: 314
    #3
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    Hi JA,

    I had a lot of questions about pre-existing conditions because I switched insurance this January. I was in the middle of my treatment and just 2 weeks before having liver surgery.

    I called the insurance company I was switching to. They said that the agreement they had with my employer had no restrictions regarding pre-existing conditions. From this I got the impression that it can vary from one insurance plan to another. Maybe you could call the plans directly that you are considering enrolling in and ask specifically if you are covered.

    I also called the Insurance Commissioner for my state. I would highly suggest calling yours, if you haven't already. They are highly knowledgeable in the laws for your state.

    In case you don't have it, here is the website and contact number for the offices of insurance commisioner for California:

    http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/

    Consumer Hotline
    800-927-Help (4357)

    It might be helpful to, of course, keep records of phone conversations and other coorespondence concerning the verification of how the laws apply to you.

    Best wishes and Good luck,
    Maria
  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #4
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    Hi JADot and KathiM,
    I am in CA too, in SF bay area. Just wanted to let you know.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
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    KathiM said:

    I'll call my insurance broker guy today and see what he says...I'm in Calif, and I KNOW I ask him about this a long time ago...
    Hugs,
    Kathi

    Hey, dearheart, have some info:
    First, I found that what Maria said is true, contact insurance companies and "shop around" for HIPPA...VERY PRICEY, unfortunately, but better than $500,000 self-pay for us semi-colons...
    ALSO NO pre-existing conditions for HIPPA...companies offering HIPPA are REQUIRED to offer coverage to Californians REGARDLESS of pre-existing.
    Third, some phone/web info:
    HMO Help Center (I know, maybe you don't have, but the gal I talked to said you could call and ask about HIPPA).
    1-888-HMO-2219
    www.hmohelp.ca.gov

    Hope this helps!
    Hugs,
    Kathi

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