Comments on: The U.S. Healthcare System Undermines Entrepreneurship and Innovation

By: David Curry

David Curry — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:55:19 +0000

I certainly appreciate your post Jeff. I’m self employed, and have been since age 18, and have always had my own health insurance. While not cheap, I have a plan that provides rx, $25 doctor co-pay, and a $2500 deductible for around $400 per month for my family of four. I hardly think that $400 per month for an entire family would stand in the way of a a business plan. I have had health issues, but find that as long as I maintain my current policy, I am not at risk of being dropped.

The issue of the day is that the current policy changes that are being talked about do little to address the core problem. If the problem is the lack of insurance across state lines and being black listed for pre-existing conditions, which most would agree are the most miserable problems within the current system, the fixes can be implemented with relatively simple legislative reform. The public option that many view as the savior of the little guy, will do no more to relieve the high cost of insurance than the USPS has done to reduce the cost of postage.

To anyone looking for health reform, google (or Bing if that’s the thing…) “paul ryan GOP healthcare plan”. There’s another bill out there that addresses the issues without bloating government, and it’s a shame that so few people know about it. Thanks for bringing up the subject Jeff.

By: Paul Kaczmarczyk

Paul Kaczmarczyk — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:20:51 +0000

I just recently had a client that was denied by one major health insurance carrier but was accepted with another carrier here in Illinois. Every carrier underwrites differently. I’m not saying that every condition will be approved by somebody. Just watch out for companies that don’t underwrite an application. You will be stuck with a plan that pays barely nothing out when you really need it.

By: annandajay

annandajay — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:53:52 +0000

Wow, after reading these posts, and my reason for coming across these posts is because I am trying to do some research for an article to be written in Self Magazine about how someone may have been denied health insurance because they have disclosed or posted some concerns about their health profile on a blog or a networking site such as facebook or twitter. But after reading these posts, it makes me appreciate what i do so much more and what the company I rep for does so much more. We insure the above situations of which the self-employed have been denied. We are a large non-profit association for the self-employed and nationwide certificate allowing us to take on risks and be field underwriters in cases like above! Thank you for sharing, and if you know anyone who has been denied because they have shared the health profile online, please contact me.

By: annandajay

annandajay — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 09:53:47 +0000

By: jsiarto

jsiarto — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:58:46 +0000

My concern is that once you are denied by a major carrier, it’s next to impossible to get another to accept you. They all share information through the MIB and, in Illinois at least, you must answer the “Have you ever been denied coverage question?” The system is broken when a healthy individual, willing to pay, can’t get coverage.

Also, why can’t I see the underwriting guidelines? These people aren’t doctors–who’s making these decisions? This process needs to be more open and insurance companies need to accountable for their decisions and business practices.

By: Paul Kaczmarczyk

Paul Kaczmarczyk — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:48:56 +0000

A couple things to note in the above posts, is never ever lie on a health insurance application. If you lie it will make it worse since the insurance company can go back and rescind a claim and cancel a policy. It is better to declined by one carrier based on underwriting your condition and then getting insured by another. Some times it is all about finding the right carrier, they are all a little different.

the second thing is never cancel a policy before you have another on in place. Luckily now the cobra subsidy plan that just passed is reopening the window for those recent laid off to reapply for coverage.

By: Stephanie Russell

Stephanie Russell — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:27:22 +0000

This is so common in today’s world. In December of 2007 I had to find new health insurance because I was in the working world and could no longer be covered by my parents. And since my small three-person firm didn’t offer health insurance, I was forced to look elsewhere.

Knowing in the back of my mind that there could be a problem because of my mental health, I made sure to disclose the fact that I was being treated and haven’t had any issues since 2004. Apparently it pays to lie, because by admitting this on my application I was denied.

And denied. And denied. By Farm Bureau’s, Blue Cross Blue Shield and an independent insurer. It was terrible and I cried.

Lucky for me I got on COBRA through my old UPS insurance. Everything carried over so I didn’t have to worry about pre-existing conditions, even though I paid $300 a month for my plan (no dental or vision). Unfortunately, when I came under my husband’s insurance in January of this year, everything that was once covered was now a pre-existing condition again.

As of now, I don’t have insurance. We were waiting on Thomas’s COBRA plan but I don’t think it will ever get here. I’m going to assume already that I will have to pay out of pocket for my medication and psych visits for a year, even after my new insurance kicks in in three months.

Let’s hope Obama is working on this.

By: US Healthcare Undermines Entrepreneurship and Innovation | Jeff Siarto

US Healthcare Undermines Entrepreneurship and Innovation | Jeff Siarto — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:15:22 +0000

[...] A short article I wrote for The Creative Career on how the US healthcare system is un... This means that many entrepreneurs and innovators—those of us paving the way on our own—are left with costly insurance or no insurance at all. Because of the limited choices for affordable healthcare, the decision to become an entrepreneur looks increasingly less attractive. Even if an individual is to secure an individual policy, the rates will be higher, and the coverage will be less than policies available through an employer. [...]