Hi! I was looking for arthritis info on the web and came across this site. Though I have been having arthritic like pain since I was 9 (I am 31 now), I was just diagnosed last week with RA. I live in Canada, but am going back to school in the fall for nuclear medicin tech. I am thinking of moving to the US for my unviersity and then working there once I am done. I was just wondering how things work. I know, like here in Canada, you can buy health insurance to help pay with medications and things like that. I was wondering if the insurance companies in the USA have restrictions to people with pre-existing conditions? The only thing I am worried about is how I will manage to pay for my medication. Dar, I'm not 100% sure about this but I think you can buy health insurance through your university,or you can buy insurance independently. Most larger universities have health centers where you can go and get information and get routine type help. Some insurance companies cover the more expensive RA medications. Most will want you to try the less expensive ones first. I don't know about the pre-existing delema. I would not advertise the fact fact that you have RA. You might write or email prospective universities/ schools to see what kind of health care they provide.Most of the insurance companies we've dealt with will cover pre-existing after 90 days or so. It depends on the problem & the insurance company. Make sure you check your plan carefully before you commit.
I would be careful about this. I have been flat out denied for health insurance due to RA. I can't buy individual health insurance. Not even a pre-ex condition exclusion for "x" number of months. I am currently uninsured because I can't afford to buy into my state's high risk insurance plan. It would cost me close to 0/month and my RA would still be excluded for 12 months as a pre-ex condition.
Shannon
Honostly you are probably better off not mentioning the RA. Just eliminate the whole problem, you know?
Welcome to the boards-we are glad to have you!!!
You can't hide the fact that you have been diagnosed with RA when you apply for insurance. Of course I'm not exactly sure how medical care in Canada works into the picture, but in the US insurance companies share a database with medical information about you. If you were treated for an illness previously, that information is out there, and they will find out. If you haven't disclosed that information on your application, you can be charged with fraud. Chances are they would just decline you coverage, but then I'm sure you get a black mark on your "permanent record"! My husband's permanent job was exported to India 3 years ago. Gotta love how outsourcing is "good for America" according to our government! He works as a computer systems designer for insurance companies, interestingly enough! That placed us in a position where we could continue insurance coverage under COBRA, but since he was unemployed -- we couldn't afford it. We went without insurance for several months, and then when he started working again, we couldn't get insurance coverage because of pre-existing conditions. He is currently working as a consultant, not an employee. That means we have no employee benefits and any insurance is self-pay. We have managed to sign up for coverage through a consulting firm that "hires" him to work for them, but it's costing us over ,600 a year for insurance! It makes me soo angry! Wow! This is all great information. Here in Canada they share all health information, so I assume that when I do move, which ever insurance company I apply to they will be looking into what Blue Cross has had me covered and not covered for. I don't think that I could hide having RA. It is the same for me here right now. I had been diagnosed with some form of arthritis when I was 9. I used to take Naproxen. Then, after a while, it really hurt my stomache and I had to stop taking it. I went years without being treated at all. Then, when I left my job after university, to go back to school, I was automatically dropped from the Blue Cross coverage my company had me on. Just by switching from the company coverage, to my own personal coverage with the same insurance company... I lost all my coverage for pre-existing problems... including anything related to treating me for any kind of arthritic disease. So, right now, I am paying out of my own pocket. I am thinking of letting go of my coverage all together. I still have individual coverage, but it is costing me a month. For covering me for nothing! Ok dental. But, how many times a year do I go to the dentist? No medications I am on now is covered. Where is my going? I am better off keeping it and putting it towards my medications! All this to say, I was just wondering if I was going to be in the same boat if when I move to the USA. It sucks they treated me like that, but even though... if I get a job in the US, they will not cover me anyway. What can you do? Thanks for all the info though. This board is really helpful!
Ahh...New Brunswick...I've been there once....had a nice time there. Ottawa is a wonderful city...I'd actually like to live there. My son and daughter went to college there. Anyway...good luck with the insurance! Kelly Dar, just to clear up any confusion, I was not saying that you wouldn't be able to get insurance if you become employed in the US. There may be a waiting period before they will cover you for your pre-existing condition - usually 90 days, I think. But to receive benefits through an employer, you usually have to be a full-time, permanent employee. Since you are planning on going to school, you will need to consider everything fully. Can you work full time and go to school part-time? Physically are you up to that? There are no easy answers for health insurance issues. I suggest you contact an insurance professional to answer some of your questions, and see if there is something that can be done to help you. I wish you well - just don't jump into anything without thoroughly checking everything out. I am not thinking of insurance while at university though... I will keep my insurance here. I know it can work that way. I can get my medications while on vactaions (which will be here in Canada while I am at school). What I am going into, is a no boarders profession. Much like nursing is. Once I get employed, I will be working full time and I am sure it will be like it is here. Working in the medical field comes with group coverage. Most likey though, I will not be covered for anything to do with RA. Welcome dar7733. It's nice to have you. I can't say to much about the insurance companies but they aren't my friend. For the longest time, I didn't have coverage until my workplace change insurance companies. So, if you decide to work in the states, check out the insurance very carfully and ,depending on what you find out, make your choice.
Welcome Dar~we're glad you're here. I put off going to the doctor for my problems for a lot longer than I should have due to the fact I didn't have health insurance. I wasn't dx'ed until I had it for that very reason. Years later I changed companies due to starting a new job and my agent then said "No reason to mention it" and I didn't. I did already have coverage though at the time...I was just switching. I can not stress the importance of health insurance enough. I could not begin to tell you how much RA has cost me over the years. Between all of my meds they cost about 00 a month!! Granted I don't pay but about total in co-pays but that's outragous!! I'd NEVER, NEVER, NEVER be able to pay that out of pocket. I wouldn't be able to take medications such as Humira and MTX and they do really make a huge difference at certain stages of this disease. I'm not even thinking about all the blood work, x-rays....MRI's and other routine stuff; and a few unexpected things that can arrise with a chronic illness. I know there are certain situations where you have no choice. You can't hardly afford daily expenses let alone insurance but it's an absolute must for everyone. Someone close to me recently at 37 had a heart attach. He didn't have insurance. Revived in the ER....emergency heart caterization....and 3 days in the ICU and he now owes more than ,000 in hospital bills alone. This doesn't include the surgen; the guy that puts you to sleep....or many, many other things. How exactly is he going to get continuous care now? How can he pay for his medication that is more than 0 a month when he barely had 0 left over after his monthly bills alone? I know insurance seems like the first thing you can do without when things get tight. Trust me....I've been there; but if something unexpected happens, we all have to have it. At least here in the US anyway. I'm not speaking to just you Dar~I just mean in general. Anyone here that's just beginning their journey with RA needs to make every effort right now to secure health insurance. It's really sad to say but often doctors won't even see you if you are behind on your bills. Nurses won't return your calls. You won't get the care you deserve and that can be damaging to your physical furture. Oh, I understand what you are saying Lovie! My family has a winter home in Florida, and a year or so ago, my father had a terrible alergic reaction. He went to the ER, and was there for a short time. One doctor didn't even see him... just patted him on the leg and said he will be alright, and my father was billed for 00! Lucky for us, we have great travel insurance here in Canada and my father didn't have to pay any of the ,000 they billed him for. I remember when we lived in Maine and I had the flu. My parents brought me to the ER and when they got the bill, everything was listed. Even the tissues that were used to blow my nose! It is very different here. And I am ready for that. I know that when I do move to the US, I will be covered by all that. The hospitals and private clinics have really great group health insurance coverage. It is the first thing I check when researching a job. I might even go back to Canada once I get finished with my schooling. I don't know. Who ever offers me a full time job and good benifits, I am there! ha ha. Still, I know how blood work and x-rays can add up! That is one thing I don't even have to worry about while here. The government pays for everything, I don't have to think twice about that. Dar, The university of toronto is beautiful. Health Ins in the US has changed alot over the years. We used to have family coverage 10 yrs ago paid by the employer. Now my husband has coverage only for him paid by employer I have coverage only for me. To get my husband on my ins it would cost 666.00 mo. I can't even get on my husbands. My son has a prosthetic arm( congenital) He's 25 and has no health ins as they don't offer it where he works. He went to our welfare system to see if they have something available and they said he will probably qualify for a nominal fee, but he has to go to his DR to get a slip to prove he has an artificial arm. I guess they must have had their eyes closed.
Good luck!
I am paying cash too. It really depends on what medication you
are on. Some of them are as high as 2500 a month and as low as 9
dollars, depending on what works for you.
Canada has a good health plan and if I still had the home in the Ottawa area, I would retire there.
Marisa
HI DAR
WELCOME TO THE BOARD,WERE NEIGHBOURS I LIVE IN TRURO,N.S
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