Why does Blue Cross need to know my medical history...

[Jack_Dawson]

if I'm getting coverage through my employer? Is this something they will hold against me later? I've seen Sicko and heard the horror stories, but I just got a new job and they want to know every drug I've been on, etc. Since I have to turn this form into HR, I'd rather my company not know every detail of my medical history. :wtf:

[Warpy]

1. If there is a single error or omission

you run the risk of having your policy retroactively canceled should you become seriously ill.

I don't know what BC/BS's record on this is. I do know it has happened to people using other carriers.

Trust me, you need to tell them EVERYTHING.

[Jack_Dawson]

2. But it's through my employer

They can't cancel me if it's a group policy...I've never heard of that.

[bananas]

15. Talk to a lawyer

they play so many bullshit games...
Also call your senate and congressperson's office,

[kickysnana]

13. Wish being honest would always work...

Positive Lyme tests are routinely "lost" by a lot of clinics and HMOs (to long to go into here but it has happened to over 400 people here in Minnesota so it is deliberate.) Unless you get copies of records for each visit, each time you are screwn. God only knows for what other conditions they are screwing people are getting screwed over.

Until we throw these predators out of the medical system (insurance companies) it is only going to get worse.

[RB TexLa]

3. They need it to assess the risk of the group and to price according to the known risk

[Yael]

4. So that they can adjust the rates to your company as they deem "appropriate"

And don't think for a minute that they won't charge your employer/coworkers more to cover you if they deem you to be 'high risk'. Happens every year.

This system is beyond broken...

[roody]

5. A doctor told me "If you've never been treated for it,

don't write it on any questionaire."

[Jack_Dawson]

6. I don't get it

:shrug:

[RB TexLa]

8. If you have something that hasn't been treated and isn't in your MIB

you don't put it on an application. You might suffer from a chronic cough or pain but if you have never been treated for it you don't list it. No treatment no record of it in you MIB file. It's not your responsibility to either self diagnose anything or revel anything that hasn't been treated.

Now for many types of insurance policies there will be the reasonable and prudent person clause. Say you buy cancer expense insurance and two months later find out you have cancer and have had it for more than a year but showed no symptoms, your cancer policy is going to pay. If however you after buying the insurance go and get the baseball size lump that has been under your arm for three years checked and it is cancer they are not going to pay except to refund your premiums.

[KoKo]

7. Why would anyone fill in a bland for something they've never been treated for in the first place?

:shrug: Writing your medical history for a doctor helps them know what to look for. And, one always has to fill that out for insurance forms so that they know how much to give you for coverage...if you are at risk.

[Up2Late]

9. They need to know how much to over-charge you for your "heath insurance."

They are probably NOT supposed to hold pre-existing conditions against you, but most of them (heath insurance corps) probably do.

And the person at your company who takes your form probably could (or should) be fired if they reveled any of you private info to others in the company, so if you think they might not be totally trust worthy, you might want to remind them of that possibility.

[Peregrine]

10. Are you a new employee

Are you a new employee or is your company changing providers? If so, then it would be unusual to provide medical history. Generally you are covered for pre-existing conditions.

Are you a current employee who previously turned down medical coverage? If so, then pre-existing conditions are not covered and you will need to provide medical history.

The only other thing I can think of is that your employer went real cheap on the coverage to save himself money. So it probably comes with a lot of conditions.

[Jack_Dawson]

12. New Employee

And I would never turn down health coverage!

But seriously...the drugs I'm on are huge red flags to insurance companies (ambien, vicodin, etc.). BUT - I need them! I just don't ever remember giving this kind of history at other jobs. Whatever.

:beer:

[Lint Head]

11. They need th money to keep building the skyscrapers with

their logos on top. :dem:

[kath]

14. seems very odd for a group policy. And with current confidentiality rules, it seems that your

employer shouldn't be entitled to such private info.
Any attorneys here that are fluent in privacy and healthcare regs??

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. To find reasons to reject you

[Jack_Dawson]

17. But...they can't reject me- right?