Question:
Is there a waiting period after obtaining insurance before I can get surgery?

I am self employed and need to purchase insurance as an individual. From what I have researched, I think I am going to go with BC/BS PPO of Maryland. Of course, because I am not my ideal weight, lol, I have to wait until open enrollment. Is there a waiting period that I have to wait until I can apply to have surgery? My BMI is over 50, has anyone been through this? Thanks!    — Kim H. (posted on July 8, 2002)

July 8, 2002
I work in a surgeons office and deal with insurance a lot. It depends on the policy, but many PPO's have "pre-existing condition" clauses. The waiting period is usually 6 months to a year. Hope this helps. Good Luck!
   — Lesa H.

July 8, 2002
If you are purchasing an INDIVIDUAL Insurance plan, then there would be no such thing as OPEN ENROLLMENT. Open Enrollment refers to the time of year when employees can make changes/additions to GROUP Insurance plans - plans offered by employers. If you are opting to enroll in a POS/PPO Individual plan, you will need to go through medical underwriting in order to qualify for the insurance plan. Qualifications for coverage are based on many factors including your health and height vs. weight ratio. There wouldn't be something such as Open Enrollment to make it easier for you to get into a plan. Again, depending on the plan, the waiting periods for pre-existing conditions may vary from 6-12 months. I would suggest contacting an insurance agent or a broker in your area. They are your best bet and can most definately advise you on the type of plan that would suit your needs. They would also be able to tell you which plans have stricter underwriting guidelines and which plans are easier to get into. I wish you luck!
   — Rosario T.