Posted by Greg on October 9, 2000, at 14:50:29
In reply to Re: Northern CA Insurance Advice--Racer, Greg?, posted by Abby on October 9, 2000, at 2:39:25
Hi Abby,
Sorry to take so long in answering but I wanted to do some research first.
The healthcare providers that I've had the best luck with are Aetna
http://www.aetnaushc.com/cgi-bin/state_pages.pl
and United Healthcare
http://www.uhc.com/healthplans/states/california/
index.htmlI know that they both provide private insurance policies that you can purchase but you will probably have to make some phone calls to get pricing. I'm not sure that depression is considered to be a pre-existing condition in California unless you have been hospitalized for it. I'm not sure why I'm thinking that, but I faguely remember reading about it somewhere. It's certainly not in the same catagory as being pre-diagnosed with Cancer or a brain tumor. I would be sure to discuss it with whoever you get on the phone to be sure. An untested thyroid condition is definitely not a pre-existing cond.
I discussed this with my HR dept (anonymously of course) and it was recomended to me that you talk to whoever handles your car insurance about this. Many companies handle all different types of insurance, including medical, and because you are already a customer, you can get greatly reduced rates on your med Ins. Also, I was wondering if you have a working parent? In Cal, a full-time student can be carried on their parents medical insurance until the age of 26. Might that be a possibility for you?
OK, Kaiser.... It probably would be the least expensive in the long run, but you get what you pay for. It would be my absolute last choice. I took my son to a Kaiser ER at the age of 8 mos. I signed him in explaining that was extremely sick with a 104 temp. We sat in the waiting room for 55 minutes waiting to be seen, finally a doctor walked by and saw that he was passed out cold in my arms, snatched him out of my arms and took him back to a room. His temp was 106.1 by that time. He nearly died that day from spinal meningitis. I wouldn't recommend Kaiser to my worst enemy.
I really don't know anything about Healthnet or Pacificare.
If you are unable to get anywhere with the two I've listed above let me know and I'll be glad to assist you in finding some others. My HR dept here is a great resource for getting info of this type.
I wish I could give you more info about private insurance policies, but I've been working steadily since I was 16 and don't believe I've ever been without company paid health insurance.
Anyway, I hope this finds you doing well and my thoughts are with you.
Greg
> Could the Northern CA babblers please e-mail me describing their experiences with different insurers.
> >
> > I am currently on a University Health Insurance Plan which I don't find acceptable, and I'm looking into buying an individual policy.
> >
> > Under my current plan I have to go to Student Health Services first. They refer me out to prudent providers when necessary, but I wonder whether I would need to be in cardiac arrest for them to take me seriously. All services---lab tests, doctors visits, immunizations at the Student Health Service are not covered, though the fees are slightly cheaper than elsewhere. There is one psychiatrist, and I don't really like him. I don't think he passes Dr. Ivan's test as a psychopharmacology expert. He thought that 150mg of Zoloft was a very high dose. He's also off during the summer. Psychiatric care is really limited, but it is free.
> > Prescriptions are discounted 50%. Outside mental health is limited to 40 visits per year, reimbursed at 80%, maximum of $50.
> >
> > Which plans are more likely to cover pre-existing conditions, namely my depression, and any untested thyroid abnormalities?
> >
> > What experiences have people had with Kaiser? Healthnet or Pacificare (the last one looks bad). Neither Blue Cross nor Blue Shield include Zoloft on their formularies. There's also a local one called Western Health Advantage run by doctors, but I don't think they sell individual policies.
> >
> >
> > Tips on navigating the system, experiences good and bad would be most appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Abby in Cow Town
poster:Greg
thread:45987
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000926/msgs/46014.html