Question:
if i change insurance companies will i have to wait for years?

the doctor i wanted to go to is having a god complez and i dont want to be at his mercy for surgery. i will have to go to independent health to go to the next surgeon in line. will i have to wait and wait because they will consider this a *pre* existing condition?    — teresa O. (posted on November 6, 2002)

November 6, 2002
If you have no breaks in insurance coverage, I believe they can't deny you for a "pre-existing condition." I changed jobs one year ago, and then had to take 3 months of COBRA insurance because my health insurance with my new job didn't kick in till March 1, 2002, and I didn't want a break in insurance coverage. I had my surgery approved by my new insurance in October on the first try, and I am now exactly 1 week post-op. Good luck. <1 week, -12.5 pounds>
   — Sarah S.

November 6, 2002
I don't think you'll have a problem. I changed from PHN to Aetna on November 1st and had surgery on Dec 6th. I think I sent in my approval forms 2 weeks after enrolling. I had no problems
   — Monica H.

November 6, 2002
I think it depends on your insurance. I was thinking of changing to a PPO since we are in open enrollment. I read the EOCs and they did have a pre-existing clause that said there was a 6 month waiting period except for some special cases (pregnancy, and some others) See what the new policy says. I think they CAN have that clause but with a lot of limitations. I believe that the HMO that I have now does not have any pre-existing conditions clause. Good luck!
   — w8free

November 6, 2002
i would stick with the surgeon you are set up with; i would rather have a surgeon with a superiority complex than an inferiority complex. confidence is a good thing when you are talking about your health ;)
   — kultgirl

November 7, 2002
One of the few good things Slick Willie Clinton gave us is the ban on "no pre-existing conditions" when changing insurance. As long as you were covered for the prior 12 months by another ins., you are good to go, from what I understand. I'm currently waiting on open enrollment to change to a more WLS-surgery-friendly insurance that will start in January. I've even seen a new primary care physician and paid out of my own pocket, just to get us to know each other and let him know my intentions. He's already concerned about my blood pressure and backaches, so I'll probably even see him again before January. No problem to me, because I know my surgery will be paid for with the new insurance, which I researched extensively.
   — cddgo