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trans2006-10-06 08:11 pm
minding-maura.livejournal.com) wrote in trans2006-10-06 08:11 pm
Medical Insurance Issues to Consider
Everyone keeps talking about medical insurance in here, but no one is looking at the other side of using insurance. Sure it helps to defray costs, which is important, but there is another big consideration that is far more reaching than you think.
MEDICAL INFORMATION BUREAU - "MIB"
The MIB is a non-profit organization owned by the insurance companies. The MIB collects all medical information about everyone. All insurance companies have access to this information. That is ALL insurance companies.
So consider this, every medical treatment you get is listed there, everything. You might ask, so how does this affect you? Well, in a huge way. When you apply for life or health insurance the underwriters use this information to determine what "class" you belong to for acceptance and rating purposes.
So you say, well I work for a big company so I don't have to worry about that - yes you do!!! If you lose your job your health insurance is portable through COBRA but the rates that are charged will be based upon your then assigned "class". If you run out your COBRA then you have to get individual insurance which is then again determined by your "class". Transgender is "high-risk" which means you will probably be referred to your state risk pool, in many cases is the Blues (Blue Cross/Blue Shield). Now this is not regular Blues in that you are being assigned to the high risk which means your rates are astronomical. A transgender of 35 can as a single expect to be paying up to $700 per month easily.
So you ask, well what are my rights. You have the right to see everything in your medical records with the MIB but it must be done through your doctor. The reason for this is that it is all coded and must be translated by a medical professional. They will not release the information to you directly. This can be worse than a credit record in that information never expires, it follows you for life.
If you have encountered it before, you may say, well I have the right to refuse access to my personal medical records, which is correct. The double edged sword here though is that if you don't grant permission to the insurance companies to review the data they will simply not issue you an insurance policy. So much for your rights huh.
MY SUGGESTIONS:
1. Forget using insurance
2. Do not EVER reveal your real name to a doctor or therapist treating you.
3. Tell your therapist why you will use a fake name or your chosen name.
4. Realize that even if your doctor or therapist says they will not divulge information, the simple action of refusing to divulge will stop the insurance company from approving your application.
You need to protect yourself. If you can afford it forget about insurance. If you do need to use it remember that you will pay the price in very high insurance rates for the rest of your life.
MEDICAL INFORMATION BUREAU - "MIB"
The MIB is a non-profit organization owned by the insurance companies. The MIB collects all medical information about everyone. All insurance companies have access to this information. That is ALL insurance companies.
So consider this, every medical treatment you get is listed there, everything. You might ask, so how does this affect you? Well, in a huge way. When you apply for life or health insurance the underwriters use this information to determine what "class" you belong to for acceptance and rating purposes.
So you say, well I work for a big company so I don't have to worry about that - yes you do!!! If you lose your job your health insurance is portable through COBRA but the rates that are charged will be based upon your then assigned "class". If you run out your COBRA then you have to get individual insurance which is then again determined by your "class". Transgender is "high-risk" which means you will probably be referred to your state risk pool, in many cases is the Blues (Blue Cross/Blue Shield). Now this is not regular Blues in that you are being assigned to the high risk which means your rates are astronomical. A transgender of 35 can as a single expect to be paying up to $700 per month easily.
So you ask, well what are my rights. You have the right to see everything in your medical records with the MIB but it must be done through your doctor. The reason for this is that it is all coded and must be translated by a medical professional. They will not release the information to you directly. This can be worse than a credit record in that information never expires, it follows you for life.
If you have encountered it before, you may say, well I have the right to refuse access to my personal medical records, which is correct. The double edged sword here though is that if you don't grant permission to the insurance companies to review the data they will simply not issue you an insurance policy. So much for your rights huh.
MY SUGGESTIONS:
1. Forget using insurance
2. Do not EVER reveal your real name to a doctor or therapist treating you.
3. Tell your therapist why you will use a fake name or your chosen name.
4. Realize that even if your doctor or therapist says they will not divulge information, the simple action of refusing to divulge will stop the insurance company from approving your application.
You need to protect yourself. If you can afford it forget about insurance. If you do need to use it remember that you will pay the price in very high insurance rates for the rest of your life.