THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 7, 1995 TAG: 9508040031
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
If the public can influence Congress more than insurance company lobbyists have been able to do, guaranteed health care at reasonable costs for all would become a reality.
I have watched the underwriting of individual health-insurance policies become so strict it's almost impossible to have a policy issued without waivers of specific conditions and any related condition. For the most part, you're wasting your time if you are taking medication of any sort.
As an example, I had a client apply for major medical who had gone through a divorce a year ago. At that time her doctor put her on 20 mg of Prozac each day for six months. At the time I took the application, my client was no longer taking any medication. The insurance company declined to issue any health insurance until my client was free of Prozac for five years.
Some companies writing major medical now require blood profiles submitted with their applications. Not just to determine HIV but all the client's chemical levels. They may find out more about you than you know about yourself (or what your doctor feels you should know).
Those who work for large companies generally are guaranteed issuance of their group health insurance, but look out if you go to work for a small company or go into business for yourself.
The Kassebaum-Kennedy bill may be a step in the right direction if it ever gets by the health-insurance lobby and those political opportunists seated on ``the hill.''
G. DONALD BROWN
Norfolk, July 22, 1995 by CNB