article re insurance cancellations

3monstmama

the purpose of this topic is NOT to debate health care reform but rather provide information and protect others from risking cancellation of their health insurance when they need it the most. 

There is an article on yahoo today that is from Reutres that everyone should read.  It is about insurance companues cancelling the policies of women with breast cancer.  According to the article, the companies doing the cancellations were all subsidiaries of WellPoint.  While the particular people in the story were cancelled prior to the passage of the new health bill, the story says that the new law will not necessarily put a stop to this types of practices.

What I gleamed from the article and felt was important to share is one of the "tricks" used to cancel policies.  Apparently policies were cancelled in some cases because the company had sent a letter to the individual requesting additional information on employment history or whathave you.  The receipiant [BreastCancerPatient] didn't get the letter, or just didn't think it was important, and the policy was cancelled because of the lack of response.

That scared the crap out of me.  I get so much mail from doctors and hospitals and insurance companies right now that it would be easy for me to miss such a letter.  And then what we would do?  I am the insurance for our family.

I urge everyone to read this article, not to scare yourself but to educate and arm yourself.  And I would encourage you to share this article with others, not just women with cancer but anyone you know with a serious illness requiring lots of pricey care.

Finally, if you have had insurance cancelled or know someone who has, it sounds like state regulators and private attorneys  are looking for you. Apparently the insurance companies are hiding behind the privacy laws [designed to protect YOU] to keep from telling investigators who they are cancelling.

www.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100422/us_nm/us_wellpoint_cancer