OT: To test or not to test...what would you do?



"Dee Randall" <[email protected]> schreef in bericht
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>
>>> When you apply for insurance, don't many/most companies ask for family
>>> history?
>>
>> A few questions, but not in much detail.
>>
>> Everytime I go to a new doctor, I'm asked for my family history.
>>
>> I'm not, unless there is a specific reason.They rarely do a full amnio
>> (?) here. The GP knows a lot about you, and when you are referred to a
>> specialist MD, the GP wirtes down any relevant info on the referral. From
>> experience, I know it can be different in other countries.Different
>> medical cultures, but also different systems.
>>
>>
>>> Dee Dee
>>>
> From my experience they will take a history for numerous tests, as well,
> even though your own doctor has prescribed the test.
> If you go to the hospital for any procedure, for instance at Georgetown
> University Medical Hospital and also at Johns Hopkins, not only will they
> take your history once, but you might get 2-4 other interns that will come
> in and interview you and take your history.
>

I like that thouroughness. Although I trust my drs, it is easier to trust
them when it's visible t me what they are thinking/doing.

> I'm not saying that all of the facts go into one big data base to be used
> or checked in your insurance requests;

That woudln't be the case here, either. But when filing out an appliation
for insurance, you are obliged to tell the truth by contract. If you lie and
they find out, the preexisting condition will not be covered anymore. You
can't lie about what you don't know.

but I don't think even if it were to
> go into a data base, it wouldn't keep me from being upfront with my data,
> nor would I decline taking a test for that reason -- who knows, it may
> save one's life.
> Dee Dee
>
I see your point and I do agree lying about health issuea can be bad for you
health. I was talking about possible finacnieal consequnences because I
didn't necessarily see any medical consequences in the case of this
particular disease, as there is no prevention.
 
Jke wrote:
> I wouldn't get the test since there is no prevention for the disease.
> But I would keep a closer eye on any possible symptoms.
>
> And I'd always have the option ot change my mind and get the test
> after all.
>
> In this country, knowing you have a disease like HIV can make it more
> difficult to get certain types of insurance (or at least more
> expensive). You have to tell the company when you apply for the
> insurance.

It depends on the type of insurance you are purchasing and whether or not it
is offered as "group" insurance through an employer or if you are buying
individual policies. In the case of health insurance, most large employers
offer health coverage without pre-existing condition exclusions and no
medical questions are asked. This is because the spread of risk (the
concept on which insurance is based) with a larger group of insureds goes
down exponentially. With individual health policies, the underwriting
guidelines are much more strict and often medical records and/or a medical
examination is required.

As for life insurance, in TN, if you misrepresent any existing health
condition on your application (and the OP would have to already have been
diagnosed with this condition to have misrepresented herself), if the
insured goes 2 years without being discovered *or* filing a claim (which of
course, with life insurance would mean the insured died) the insurance
company cannot exclude coverage for it. Weird, but true.

Jill <---licensed life, accidental death/dismemberment and health agent
 
Dee Randall wrote:
> "Nexis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:RoA2g.173793$bm6.126679@fed1read04...
>>
>> "Dee Randall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>> "Jke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>> I wouldn't get the test since there is no prevention for the
>>>> disease. But I would keep a closer eye on any possible symptoms.
>>>>
>>>> And I'd always have the option ot change my mind and get the test
>>>> after all.
>>>>
>>>> In this country, knowing you have a disease like HIV can make it
>>>> more difficult to get certain types of insurance (or at least more
>>>> expensive). You have to tell the company when you apply for the
>>>> insurance. If the disease is rare enough, it won't be asked about
>>>> explicitly on the application form. But there might be a general
>>>> question about health risks. If you have not been told you have a
>>>> certain disease, you won't have to tell them you are at a higher
>>>> risk than average.
>>>>
>>>> I don't know if that would apply in your situation.
>>> When you apply for insurance, don't many/most companies ask for
>>> family history? Everytime I go to a new doctor, I'm asked for my
>>> family history. Dee Dee
>>
>> Dee,
>>
>> The last time I applied, they asked about my parents, but not my
>> siblings, which I thought odd, but didn't press the issue.
>>
>> kimberly
> Interestingly, I have had them ask only for my parents' history.
> OTOH, I have had them ask about both parents and siblings. Perhaps
> because I am older, I don't know.
> Insurance and DNA records are a concern, but knowing about one's own
> health is paramount and a concern for your children if you have any.
> Dee Dee

I'm not aware of a central database in the U.S. which is used to gather
individual health data to prevent someone from getting life or health
insurance.

Jill
 
"jmcquown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Xw%[email protected]...
> Jke wrote:
>> I wouldn't get the test since there is no prevention for the disease.
>> But I would keep a closer eye on any possible symptoms.
>>
>> And I'd always have the option ot change my mind and get the test
>> after all.
>>
>> In this country, knowing you have a disease like HIV can make it more
>> difficult to get certain types of insurance (or at least more
>> expensive). You have to tell the company when you apply for the
>> insurance.
>
> It depends on the type of insurance you are purchasing and whether or not
> it
> is offered as "group" insurance through an employer or if you are buying
> individual policies. In the case of health insurance, most large
> employers
> offer health coverage without pre-existing condition exclusions and no
> medical questions are asked. This is because the spread of risk (the
> concept on which insurance is based) with a larger group of insureds goes
> down exponentially. With individual health policies, the underwriting
> guidelines are much more strict and often medical records and/or a medical
> examination is required.

There are many insurance policies written for companies that do not fall
within the larger employers and the individual health policies wherein could
lie a problem with obtaining health insurance for the individual.
Dee Dee
 

>
> It depends on the type of insurance you are purchasing and whether or not
> it
> is offered as "group" insurance through an employer or if you are buying
> individual policies. In the case of health insurance, most large
> employers
> offer health coverage without pre-existing condition exclusions and no
> medical questions are asked. This is because the spread of risk (the
> concept on which insurance is based) with a larger group of insureds goes
> down exponentially. With individual health policies, the underwriting
> guidelines are much more strict and often medical records and/or a medical
> examination is required.
>
> As for life insurance, in TN, if you misrepresent any existing health
> condition on your application (and the OP would have to already have been
> diagnosed with this condition to have misrepresented herself), if the
> insured goes 2 years without being discovered *or* filing a claim (which
> of
> course, with life insurance would mean the insured died) the insurance
> company cannot exclude coverage for it. Weird, but true.
>
> Jill <---licensed life, accidental death/dismemberment and health agent
>
>
Intersting reading, Jil.. It is somewhat different from the sitaution here,
and I hope it can be helpful to the OP and others here to boot. I find it
interesting to read because I am not familiar with these things in the US. I
find such things can tell you a lot aout customs in other countries,
including some of the reasoning tha is common in other cultures.
 
In article <kNw2g.173736$bm6.85264@fed1read04>,
"Nexis" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'd like a few opinions if I may....
>
> If there was a chance that you had a hereditary disease that you
> could find with a few tests, but is incurable....would you do the
> tests?

I wouldn't. If it is incurable, there would be no point to me. Now,
if I started developing symptoms, I'd see what could be done to
alleviate that, and I would watch the news on that disease to see if
some cure was being created, but otherwise, I'd live my life as well as
I could and not worry about it. Since it is hereditary, when your kids
are old enough to care or are getting married or something, I'd remind
them of it, so they have the option to test if they wish to do so.

Regards,
Ranee (who also does not do any of the screening for possible
abnormalities that cannot be corrected in babies when I'm pregnant)

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/
 
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Kathy in NZ) wrote:

> It won't stop you getting the disease, but it will catch it in the
> early stage. Your chance of recovery or a longer life are maximised.

But this is incurable. If you start developing symptoms, the best
they can do is treat the symptoms, as I understand it.

Regards,
Ranee

Remove do not & spam to e-mail me.

"She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands." Prov 31:13

http://arabianknits.blogspot.com/
http://talesfromthekitchen.blogspot.com/
 
Dee Randall wrote:
> "jmcquown" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:Xw%[email protected]...
>> Jke wrote:
>>> I wouldn't get the test since there is no prevention for the
>>> disease. But I would keep a closer eye on any possible symptoms.
>>>
>>> And I'd always have the option ot change my mind and get the test
>>> after all.
>>>
>>> In this country, knowing you have a disease like HIV can make it
>>> more difficult to get certain types of insurance (or at least more
>>> expensive). You have to tell the company when you apply for the
>>> insurance.
>>
>> With individual health policies,
>> the underwriting guidelines are much more strict and often medical
>> records and/or a medical examination is required.
>
> There are many insurance policies written for companies that do not
> fall within the larger employers and the individual health policies
> wherein could lie a problem with obtaining health insurance for the
> individual.
> Dee Dee

Yes, being a licensed agent, I am aware of that. But if the insured has not
been officially diagnosed it is not an omission nor a misrepresentation of a
health problem on an application. The company can't turn an individual (or
small group member) down based on the fact that another family member has a
heart problem.

Jill
 
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