NOTE: As this is kind of a specialized emergency, I ask that anyone
reading this who is uniquely experienced/qualified to answer it please
post that fact. Or, if researchers decide together in such cases,
decide and proceed. (All comments encouraged too!!)
*I need an answer by Thursday afternoon, 03/13, as I have to commit by
then.*
Otherwise, all else being equal:
PALAFALA: As I was told a tip can’t be left when a question is
canceled, and it was suggested that instead I could submit a new
question to you, here goes.
I want to identify which large/established health insurance carriers
have the best and worst track records on the following count: having
shown themselves to be most or least likely to slap large/huge rate
increases on an existing member/client – at the next permissible rate
review - after that member gets diagnosed for the first time with an
illness that may be chronic and/or expensive. Or, that will even look
for a way to cancel them altogether if possible. The *most
historically habitual* meanies, and their relative opposites, in other
words.
Say this member has always had good health until then; has never
presented any problem or expense to the carrier; and has hidden
nothing. (Of course it would great to avoid companies known for the
largest increments in routine rate adjustments as well, but for the
purpose of this question I’m focusing on those most likely to bump
rates up very considerably if not massively for the *sole* reason of
having received an “inconvenient” diagnosis.
If I had to define what I mean by “large/established carriers” – I’m
only guessing as I don’t have much industry knowledge – I would say
very near the industry top on the following counts: length of time in
business; number of members; resources; and any such data which makes
them unlikely to fold. I wouldn’t know any other sound criteria for
pooling potential carriers, although there may be several.
Policy type already existing here is - only as I have never
had/looked into any other type - an individual PPO policy (I am an
independent contractor), without bells & whistles. FYI, I do smoke,
but have always disclosed this and do pay more because of it.
I couldn’t even name who any big carriers are besides BC/BS. FYI, in
the case at hand it’s between them and American Medical Security. Need
to decide whether to keep a scheduled doctor’s appointment that may
reveal something for the first time, or apply now to switch to a
“kinder” long-range company first. BUT. Waiting and pondering is not
problem-free either, as something IS up with me. (Not increasingly
festering infection or that kind of thing. Symptoms of a possible
chronic disease).
For an answer I hope for names of a couple or few *established*
companies, both the best and worst in the regard detailed above. I
know if insurance nightmares could be avoided in this simple fashion
they routinely would be, but I am hoping there are *some* rather
tangible criteria that can be looked at to detect an
exceptional/predictable pattern of jerking the suddenly-diagnosed
around. Additionally, I need to know where my existing carrier - AMS –
falls on the spectrum.
THANK YOU!!
One more tidbit. The Illinois Department of Insurance website does
have information on the *types* of complaints filed against each
company. Most common are claims complaints --
they-wouldn't-pay-for-my-BoTox type of claims. But there is also a
category of "underwriting" complaints. These *include* your type of
concern -- they jacked up the fee after I filed -- but there's no way
I can see to extract those specific complaints out of the broader
category of "underwriting" complaints.
If you wanted to list about ten companies, I could pull out the
relevant info and post it as an answer. But it's too convoluted to do
it for every company in the state.
Sorry for the delay. I have been looking, but to no avail, really.
There is a good deal of information available about specific
companies, but it's all of a pretty general nature (e.g. who has the
most/least consumer complaints).
But I haven't found anything specific to the topic of your question,
that is, who is (or isn't) most likely to bump up your rates if you
file a claim. It's a perfectly good question! But nobody seems to
have done a ranking of companies from this respect.
Best of luck, though...
(Hope this doesn't post twice; something went haywire. And sorry, we
crossed on that last round!)
*Thank you* for suggesting a different angle in this matter. I did
have to act/sign off on my insurance issue today already, but may
still look into identifying and "qualifying" some companies for
inclusion on a shorter list, as you suggested. Complaint data IS
useful regarding most consumer issues. Just wish people in general
would file complaints reliably. True figures can be thrown off by
those who don't/won't, whether due to procrastination, fear of
retribution or just wanting to put something behind them. *BUT STILL.*
Your source definitely sounds helpful. And as you said, the exact data
I wanted most likely just ain't out there. = (
Helloooooooo out there? Is it possible to get an update on if anyone
did anything on this as of yet, as it could help at least a bit as I
sign a dotted line today?
If no research done yet, is it possible to find out if anyone *as of
this time* has an interest in trying it soon? I don't necessarily want
to close it, as I will probably delay my appointment even if
inadvisable, to find out what I can about my existing & potential new
carrier first. But, I don't want to put this off long either.
If my parameters are too wide, and changes to the question would help
(i.e. my providing names of just two specific companies to look, if
clearly necessary), please post your suggested changes. There've got
to be SOME figures/data out there that can be looked at, if not 100%
addressing the exact matter, at least ballpark indicators of something
kind of close...? THANKS!!
Hi, thanks! Illinois.
4u2do,
Bear in mind that, according to Illinois law, your insurer can raise
your rates as much as they wish when renewal time comes around. So,
chances are good that whatever rates with which you sign will probably
only be good for a maximum of 1 year.
From HealthInsuranceInfo.net, see:
"CAN MY INDIVIDUAL HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY BE CANCELLED?
Your coverage cannot be canceled because you get sick. This is called
guaranteed renewability. You have this protection provided that you
pay the premiums, do not defraud the company, and, in the case of
managed care plans, continue to live in the plan service area.
However, guaranteed renewability does not protect you from having your
premiums go up at renewal."
and
"WHAT CAN I BE CHARGED FOR INDIVIDUAL HEALTH COVERAGE?
Generally, in Illinois, there are no limits on how much individual
premiums can vary due to age, gender, health status, family size, and
other factors."
http://www.healthinsuranceinfo.net/il03.html
Regards,
aceresearcher
Hello once again.
Sorry to hear your feeling the need for doctors...never anyone's
favorite activity.
To have any chance of tackling your question, I think we need to know
what state you are in, since that determines the available policies,
as well as the local regulatory climate.
Wow, pretty amazing that with this being one of the biggest issues of
our day, such an investigative report has never been done. Even if the
insurance companies are lucky enough to be able to (in effect) hide
such data as legally confidential, surely they could be made to
produce the numbers without the names. Or surely their clients would
provide figures to investigators. So, maybe if an investigative
hotline number was set up by (e.g.) Primetime Live (but why not the
government itself!!), and carriers assumed the only people who would
use it would be the currently or previously screwed, they'd see fit to
indeed come forth with at least the nameless numbers so the
complainers didn't skew things. (And so they wouldn't look worse than
they may be only due to having more clients than others.)
You'd think if there *was* a way to cool the heels of the "nastiest"
companies, exposing them and therefore driving their customers away
would be it.
I'm not as current as I could be, so this is probably a tired old fact
already. But if simple accountability like the above on a matter that
is one of the most important in *all* people's lives hasn't been
*demanded* by now, only politics and connections would seem able to
explain it. Power enough that the interests of a few can effectively
and perpetually jeopardize the health and financial welfare of the
whole country.
What? NOOOOOO, I'm not mad!!!!! Sorry. And thanks for trying.
 I could use some help again...
 Lost Licences |
NEED 3/13: Insurance co.s most & least likely to HIKE rates after a diagnosis