i got declined health insurance

How the hell can they decline me? I need the covarage im sick!! Ok so I applied for health insurance because I need it and if some of you follow my postings,I have anorexia and recently I was in the ER. Now I need to follow up for a thyroid and heart condition and im trying to get insurance but I am not employed just a college student.

THe reason I was declined was becuase of my height weight 5"7 110lbs is too low,they want me at 120 at least even thou 130 is the healthiest to them,and becuase of my Anorexia history.

WTF? This was for blue cross of FLorida.

Is this normal?

I've heard of people being denied because they are overweight.  This was also in FL.  I think it's just that they're more risky and have more complications and health issues.  The problem you might run into is that you have a pre-existing condition at this point.  So, even if you get insurance, you need to find out what it covers.  Will it cover anything that has to do with your anorexia or anything resulting from it?  Because sometimes they can choose not to cover anything that is pre-existing for a year (assuming you had no prior coverage). 

Check with your school.  They may have a health insurance plan.  I know that FSU does.

All insurance is based on risk - insurers and bookmakers have a lot in common.  If the insurance company thinks you present too big a risk of them having to pay out (for whatever reason) then they either set very high premiums or they simply refuse insurance.  Maybe this is another good incentive to keep trying to get up to a healthier 120-130lbs?

So what should I do? Im searching for other plans with different companies. Should I not state that Im anorexic?

whats your school, with out being too personal...they usually have coverage right, if its a university.  i am very sorry and hope for you the best.  i know its not right to lie, but i have always found it best not to include anything "mental" on my insurence forms ever....that stuff stays with you forever even if you recover or cope with your problems they can always use it agaient you later.  sorry but insurence companies are not our friends....they want to make money not help you

Well of course they want to make money.  They are, after all, a business and as such has to make money to survive.  I think I'd keep quiet about the anorexia if possible.  It's dishonest, but since insurance companies base everything on risk and there are various health problems associated with anorexia, it's probably a good bet that it's high on the list for reasons to deny coverage.  There's also a thing called "preexisting conditions," which could possibly get benefits denied if it's something related to the anorexia.  Alternatively, can your parents help you out?  In Maryland parents can cover an unmarried child under the age of 25 as long as they don't have insurance of their own regardless of whether they are a student or not.  It's an attempt to cover recent college graduates who don't have a job with benefits yet.  Again, the anorexia could be a problem.

Ok so I guess Im going to not say I am anorexic on my other application.

THank

I am an Insurance agent in FL (independent but work with Blue cross occasionally) . The advice caverlady is giving you about lying on your application is wrong and illegal. If you get the coverage by lying on your health insurance application and then you file a claim (go to the doctor, or hospital and use the insurance) and it is found out you have had the condition before the insurance company will drop your coverage immediately because your application is considered null and void. I can definitely sympathize with your situation,  it can be very difficult to find health insurance even with minor conditions. My suggestion is looking into a guarantee issue product which will accept you no matter what your condition. I know in the state of florida there are several very good options. You can Private messae me if you want the websites and more info i dont want to publicly endorse any particular company.

If you ile on your application (about anything) and they find out, not only does it mean that they'll drop you, but they can charge you for anything that they had covered. If you lie about something, then get sent to the ER and the cover it but later find out you lied, they'll charge you for all those expenses.

I am sorry you are facing this. A few thoughts I know because of my past with health conditions that regardless of health now I am considered high risk. This makes getting insurance hard or extremly expensive. They do research you so don't lie because they can find out about past issues and health problems. Have you looked into other companies or jobs that have health insurance

Original Post by candycane23:

Ok so I guess Im going to not say I am anorexic on my other application.

THank

don't do that.  most health insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions.  if you lie about pre-existing conditions, that's insurance fraud.

well it depends have you been diag with anarexia. officially because if not.  i never was even though everyone knows thats what was going on.  then its really your word agienst thiers.  if you were never diagnosed, you just say that you dropped under weight. lots of people are underweight for other reasons

Well I  used to have family health insurance when I was 16, and hospitilized. My pediatrician did say Im anorexic, so I guess that info would be in my files??

I was hospitilized 3 times before. 2 times I had to stay and 1 time I was released the same day, but noone there diagnozed me although I did tell them I suffer from anorexia. Does that count?

Hey all!  I think that we should be very careful about the advice that we give candycane.  Of course, it's not against guidelines to give her advice, but when it comes to issues of legality, I think that people should still be very careful about what they suggest to someone regarding health care and insurance.  Insurance companies see this as a very serious matter.  Especially when it involves anything that could be seen as a lie.

Candy, I would seriously consider doing a bit more research if I were you.  However, given your history, I would not suggest at all that you lie or mislead when filling out insurance information.

It looks like  paulmazzapica has offered to get you a list of other providers who might be a good match for you.  You might try pm'ing him as well.  Seems like he knows a little more about insurance in Florida.

Good luck.

You're being denied health insurance, not health care.  Go get whatever treatment that you need and work on paying off the costs over time.  It's the same thing that you're presumably doing with your college education.  If your education is an acceptable expense to borrow against then why isn't your health?  Also check and see if it's possible to be added to either of your parent's insurance plans if they have them through work, typically a college student is eligible until the age of 25.

Insurance companies are out to make money, just like any other business, they are not in the business of paying for health care coverage for people who have not paid them premiums.  They do this by gambling on your future health based on your past health history.  That's why it's easy to get coverage when you're in good health and hard to get coverage when you're in poor health.  By not having an insurance plan in place, you've been self insured.  You have a past condition that is so recent that they aren't willing to take the bet that you'll remain healthy, especially given that your weight is too low to be considered recovered from your anorexia.  Don't lie, you'll end up paying way more and have to deal with lawyers and court costs.  If you do gain to the minimum BMI that the insurance companies consider acceptable and then the more time passes the easier it will be to get insurance.

the difference though btween candycane and a cancer sufferer is that she can choose to make the necessary steps to allow her to get cover. its not easy, and its painful. but weight gain is straight forward. eat more. 500-1000 cals more than you need.

it doesnt mean the head stuff will go but you can physically do what you need to do to be entitled to a service which then entitles you to healthcare.

a lung cancer sufferer cannot take out the kitchen knife and cut the tumor out. - he could quit smoking though.

if you want the help, stop waitn for someone to rescue you. do the physical things u need to do.

I applied to again and I was declined for Aetna insurance. Now I applied to Humana. But I dont have an answear yet.

How did you guys get insurance? When you werent diagnosed yet or through your job?