Question:
How can I get affordable health insurance post-op? (self-employed)

I am self-employed, and now have BCBS. I am 3 years post-op, and my premiums have gone up to $667.00 per month (for family). I no longer can afford to pay this. I have applied for insurance with other companies, and have been denied due to having had gastric bypass surgery. Any suggestions on getting approved for health insurance for the self-employed?    — [Deactivated Member] (posted on February 8, 2005)

February 8, 2005
I am having the same problem with rates, but I am still trying to get an insurance that will pay for surgery. Can you let me know if anyone helps you? Thank You!
   — K&BradsMom

February 8, 2005
I am in the same boat. Only I am less than 2 years post op and bc bs will not take me. Apparently they will 2 + years post op. All the quotes I have gotten have been over a thousand a month. I have called more than a dozen companies large and small. It is a flat denial when thye review my surgical history even though I am perfectly healthy otherwise. It is odd many of these companies PAY for surgery but, will not provide post op coverage. :( GOOD LUCK
   — Lisa K.

February 8, 2005
This is the reason I continue to work. My husband is self employed and we'd have to pay about $900 per month for what we get through my job. Have you considered getting a part time job at a company that would pay your benefits? I believe that Home Depot and Starbucks are such companies. Of course, this depends on how busy you are from your business as it is.
   — Yolanda J.

February 9, 2005
unicare will insure you if you are 2 years post op
   — PRISCILLA D.

February 9, 2005
In this state, at least you can move from company to company IF you are continuously insured. If you drop coverage for 90+ days, all the pre-existing applies again. In WA here, there are only a few ins available for self-employed, and only 1 covers WLS. Our premiums were doing to go over $500/month EACH, the rx coverage is lousy, the deductible went $1000 EACH...... so I went with a plan that pays for everything ELSE. But it won't touch WLS with a 10 ft pole. We're in big trouble if we have a complication that they can nail on it. We're hoping that we're so far out from our surgeries that they can't nail anything on it, actually. Oh, except that we lived this long. We certainly wouldn't have had we not had these surgeries.
   — vitalady

February 9, 2005
Have you tried contacting you Chamber of Commerce? They usually offer group health insurance for the self employed. Good luck.
   — Leslie S.

February 24, 2005
I am checking into this company www.unitedamerican.com or you can call Tammy @ 318-403-0666. She said they will accept people that have had gastric bypass after one year. And the premium for me, 41 Female, is $178.00. The coverage sounds good too.
   — [Deactivated Member]