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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tallguy on October 14, 2003, at 20:18:15
I recently started my own business and therefore have had to get my own insurance. However, I had a very difficult time even getting insurance because I have been taking Zoloft for 6 months to treat panic attacks. I'm now off of the Zoloft (day 4 without it, woo hoo!) but I've discovered that I cannot get on a decent insurance plan for another 2 years because of my taking Zoloft. Do I have any recourse to protest this given that the doctor I went to (who was in the same insurance plan) prescribed me the Zoloft in the first place? I'm paying a 20% premium because of it and a higher co-pay despite the fact that I'm perfectly healthy in every other aspect and do not take any other medications.
Thanks
Posted by Patient on October 15, 2003, at 15:44:34
In reply to Insurance issues with taking SSRI?, posted by Tallguy on October 14, 2003, at 20:18:15
Hi,
My husband and I are in the same situation. He's self-employed (hasn't been able to find an engineer job as they are going over seas), and I do not work outside the home, so we have individual health insurance. Our monthly premiums were about to go up to an outrageous amount equivalent to a mortgage payment, and we were refused other ind. insurance as I am taking a SSRI. We ended up increasing our deductible, which brought down our monthly payments. We are still working on the situation. He has one client that he does computer design work for. My husband humbly mentioned his insurance premiums skyrocketing to his client, and his client said that maybe there's a chance he can hire him as part time instead of contract, and get us on their group insurance plan. I'm ashamed to say that my problems with anxiety and depression have kept me from getting work outside the home-someplace like Wally World that has a great group coverage since they have so many employees.
In hindsight it's frustrating to think that when I first started on any behavioral medicine it was through my gynecologist-I complained of PMS symptoms. I thought her response would be to put me on birth control pills, or something, but she suggested Zoloft which I began to take. I never knew I had just caused a future problem for us concerning insurance.
You'll be interested in the following article:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Insurance/Insureyourhealth/P41966.asp
Posted by Tallguy on October 15, 2003, at 16:16:02
In reply to Re: Insurance issues with taking SSRI?, posted by Patient on October 15, 2003, at 15:44:34
Hey, thanks for the article. Pretty much confirmed what I suspected. Down the road, I might try the letter from my doctor thing to get this premium reduced a bit but looks like I'm SOL for the time being. Ah well.
Posted by stjames on October 15, 2003, at 19:41:45
In reply to Re: Insurance issues with taking SSRI?, posted by Patient on October 15, 2003, at 15:44:34
If the insurance is through work, there is a "pre-enrolment" period where they have to take you,
warts and all. Otherwise, they don't like any pre-existing conditions.Some states have high rish group insurance that take everybody, check with your state offices.
Posted by galkeepinon on October 16, 2003, at 1:58:06
In reply to Insurance issues with taking SSRI?, posted by Tallguy on October 14, 2003, at 20:18:15
Hi, one reason you 'cannot get on a decent insurance plan for another 2 years because of my taking Zoloft' *may* be due to what they call a 'pre-existing condition'
Have you checked that out?I'm not sure where you are, nor do I need to know. Here are some informative sites that may help you:-)
http://www.medicus.co.uk/terms.htm
'Pre-existing condition' defined:-)
http://www.reidfinancial.com/int/help/preexdef.htmThis has A LOT of good info and testimonials:
http://www.lacarte.org/health/insurance/index.htmlHope this helped, but more importantly, I wish you the best and good luck!
> I recently started my own business and therefore have had to get my own insurance. However, I had a very difficult time even getting insurance because I have been taking Zoloft for 6 months to treat panic attacks. I'm now off of the Zoloft (day 4 without it, woo hoo!) but I've discovered that I cannot get on a decent insurance plan for another 2 years because of my taking Zoloft. Do I have any recourse to protest this given that the doctor I went to (who was in the same insurance plan) prescribed me the Zoloft in the first place? I'm paying a 20% premium because of it and a higher co-pay despite the fact that I'm perfectly healthy in every other aspect and do not take any other medications.
>
> Thanks
>
>
Posted by Susan J on October 18, 2003, at 15:13:20
In reply to Re: Insurance issues with taking SSRI?, posted by Patient on October 15, 2003, at 15:44:34
I work with health insurance law for a living, and I can give you some state-specific information if you want. When I was first on this site, I posted some programs that help certain individuals (mainly low or no income) gain access to prescription drugs for free or minimal charges.
Also, the federal law HIPAA precludes denying coverage to persons with preexisting conditions under certain circumstances....
If you are interested in any of these, lemme know.
Good luck. It's becoming harder and harder to get decent and affordable health insurance coverage these days.
Susan
Posted by Tallguy on October 18, 2003, at 15:19:55
In reply to What State are you In?, posted by Susan J on October 18, 2003, at 15:13:20
> I work with health insurance law for a living, and I can give you some state-specific information if you want. When I was first on this site, I posted some programs that help certain individuals (mainly low or no income) gain access to prescription drugs for free or minimal charges.
>
> Also, the federal law HIPAA precludes denying coverage to persons with preexisting conditions under certain circumstances....
>
> If you are interested in any of these, lemme know.
>
> Good luck. It's becoming harder and harder to get decent and affordable health insurance coverage these days.
>
> SusanThanks Susan -- I'm in California under Blue Cross. I was able to get insurance but like I said, I'm paying a 20% per month premium because of my pre-existing condition. It's basically CYA insurance too as my deductible is very high and not a lot is covered. Still, it's better than nothing I guess.
This is the end of the thread.
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