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Keep in mind (if you’re in the US) that any ailment discovered while “taking a break” from health insurance becomes a preexisting condition for every subsequent
by mlhpdx 2y ago
Keep in mind (if you’re in the US) that any ailment discovered while “taking a break” from health insurance becomes a preexisting condition for every subsequent insurance provider. It may be perverse, but going to the doctor while not on insurance can be financially devastating even if it’s a “minor” visit (check up). Such a broken system.
- fragmede 2y agothat hasn't been a thing since Obamacare in 2010!
- Remnant44 2y agoWhich is a very important thing to amplify. Healthcare in the US is full of gotchas and small exceptions that can be absolutely devastating if you fall through the cracks. But Obamacare's mandate of coverage for pre-existing conditions was a huge step forward.
- ZeroGravitas 2y agoThe current Republican Presidential Candidate did claim he was going to repeal Obamacare as late as January this year, so maybe don't count on it continuing to be the case.
- cdaringe 2y agoStrategy: propose renaming it to his name. Let him tweak it insignificantly. Let him claim it’s the biggest improvement in healthcare EVER, then BING BING, continued coverage and damage mitigated? CAPS for emulating his character. I dunno—could be worth a shot! Healthcare in employment gap is fresh on my mind :)
- Alupis 2y ago> Let him tweak it insignificantly. Yes, because everyone is happy with the current system, so let's do something to make sure it lasts forever! Politics and naming aside - the current system is awful and expensive, and did nothing to address the root causes. You don't fix that by enshrining the broken system as some sort of anti-Trump thing. Even if you hate the guy, he's still right - the system is broken and getting worse with every new strip of duct tape.
- marssaxman 2y agoThis depends on various things such as the state you live in. The worst financial disaster I ever went through resulted from medical care supposedly "covered" by employer-provided insurance, which turned out to be terrible in ways I had never imagined possible, leaving me with a mountain of debt (while going through a divorce, no less). Conversely, on two occasions - once in Oregon and once in Washington - I went to the ER in need of care while unemployed and uninsured, and the state health plan just... took care of me; it was fine. (One of these occasions was a career hiatus, as described in the article.)
- simfree 2y agoOregon permitted direct enrollment onto Medicaid when you show up to the hospital and qualify for it, and they don't chase down and audit most of those enrolled thankfully. By the way, if your still in the Greater Seattle Area you might check out the Connections Museum & Seattle Community Network, as both might be up your alley.
- marssaxman 2y agoThank you for the suggestions!
- voxic11 2y agoDiscrimination based on preexisting conditions isn't allowed anymore because of the "Obamacare" law. Your information is over a decade out of date.