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How to Obtain Health Insurance After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
by Contributing Writer
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Overview
A breast cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. If you don't have health insurance, the shock of the diagnosis may be even greater. Regardless of the stage of your specific cancer, treatment can be incredibly expensive. Health insurance companies generally require disclosure of all pre-existing conditions before they grant you coverage. As a result, it is more difficult to get health insurance once you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer. It does take perseverance, but you can find health insurance after such a diagnosis.
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Step 1
Apply for Guaranteed Issue insurance plans. These plans do not require disclosure of pre-existing conditions. As the name suggests, you are guaranteed health insurance, regardless of any diagnosis you may have.
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Step 2
Expect to pay more for Guaranteed Issue plans. Though they are much more expensive than standard plans, the higher premiums are still significantly less than breast cancer treatment costs.
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Step 3
Know that Guaranteed Issue insurance specifics vary from state to state. Certain states legally require that Guaranteed Issue insurance be available to residents. Check with your state's health department regarding the specifics of your state's insurance laws.
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Step 4
Read the fine print on your Guaranteed Issue insurance plan before committing to it. Some policies only cover pre-existing conditions once you have been on the insurance plan for 12 months or longer. As breast cancer can progress quickly, you don't want to wait a year before you begin treatment.
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Step 5
Be aware that HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) laws protect you when seeking health insurance from a new employer. Per HIPAA's specifications, you are entitled to the same health insurance as your co-workers, regardless of your breast cancer diagnosis. In order to qualify, you must have had health insurance for at least one year prior to switching jobs.
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Step 6
Check if you qualify for federal health programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare covers citizens aged 65 and older. If you are under 65 years old, you can qualify for Medicare if you have been accepting social security benefits for at least 24 months. If you qualify as a low-income individual, you may be covered under the Medicaid plan.
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Step 7
See if your state requires health insurance companies to hold open enrollment periods. States such as Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia require that Blue Cross and Blue Shield hold open enrollment periods yearly. The insurance companies open enrollment to any individuals during this time period. Your breast cancer diagnosis cannot stop you from enrolling, provided you do so during that window. Contact a Blue Cross or Blue Shield office in your area and inquire about individual plans with open enrollment.
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- Contact an independent health insurance broker to help you. Be upfront about your diagnosis.
- Contact an independent health insurance broker to help you. Be upfront about your diagnosis.
- Never lie on a health insurance application. Doing so can revoke your entire plan.
- Never lie on a health insurance application. Doing so can revoke your entire plan.
