Health insurance denial & vaccines

[bulmers99]

My daughter and I have been trying to find affordable health insurance, which is difficult in and of itself. Yesterday, I was informed by the carrier we are trying to get on with that my 4-mo old daughter was denied coverage because she hasn't been fully immunized. My husband and I have decided to selectively vaccinate and defer some immunizations until she gets older. I was wondering how other families that choose not to vaccinate or to selectively vaccinate have gotten around this with their insurance companies and if there are insurance companies that don't deny coverage based on immunization history. It seems like everyone knows what's best for my child and I, as the parent, have no say. Thanks for your help!

Keri, SAHM

[Marnica]

That sux!! Im so sorry!. From what I have been able to find out, this is not an issue for Group Insurance (ie you get it through your job). It is when you are seeking individual policies that it may be a problem.

I have no personal experience as either myself or DH has always had it though our employer. Hopefully some other mamas can chime in. My question is if one says thay do not vaccinate at all due to religious beliefs and have a exemption, how can they be denied? Wouldn't that open them up for a lawsuit based on religious discrimination??

[lurve]

shop around. my two-year-old is not vaxed and we had to buy individual insurance for her for almost a year. of the three quotes i got, not one asked about her vax status.

[knowerofnada]

Originally Posted by Marnica

That sux!! Im so sorry!. From what I have been able to find out, this is not an issue for Group Insurance (ie you get it through your job). It is when you are seeking individual policies that it may be a problem.

I have no personal experience as either myself or DH has always had it though our employer. Hopefully some other mamas can chime in. My question is if one says thay do not vaccinate at all due to religious beliefs and have a exemption, how can they be denied? Wouldn't that open them up for a lewsuit based on rekigious discrimination??

Excellent question. Did they probe you about the reasons you don't vaccinate? You probably know this, but always stay consistent with using the religion card with doctors, hospitals, schools, insurance compnaies...then it can never be questioned, it would be unconstitutional. If they didn't probe you, and you have remained consistent in all your records, surely you can contact them and tell them that it is against your religious beliefs and that is why you don't vaccinate. I agree with the PP, seems this could open them up for lawsuit if they continnued to deny (not saying you should sue them, I'm saying maybe they would view it differently.)

[alegna]

My understanding is that individual insurance (as opposed to group- like through an employer) CAN refuse for any reason- doesn't matter if your refusal is religious or what.

It stinks.

Individual insurance stinks.

The healthcare system stinks.



-Angela

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by alegna

My understanding is that individual insurance (as opposed to group- like through an employer) CAN refuse for any reason- doesn't matter if your refusal is religious or what.

It stinks.

Individual insurance stinks.

The healthcare system stinks.



-Angela

That's my understanding too, but I just can't imagine that someone denied based on vax status due to religious beliefs wouldn't have a discrimination lawsuit KWIM??

[Deborah]

I've only once heard of this. It was an insurance set-up which was only for members of a particular group and therefore they could deny the insurance on any grounds they pleased.

I don't know if religious stuff would work in a lawsuit against an insurance company.

[mammabunny]

maybe it's because you selectively vaccinate? it might be hard to use religion as a reason. Same as how certain states only allow religious exemptions if don't do any vaccines ever. I know our insurance company is aware that we are not up to date on vaccines, b/c they have sent us several "reminder" letters and phone calls about how important it is to be up to date. They send little booklets that go over all the diseases. Of course the actual Insurance company isn't doing the calling or mailing, it's sponsored by one of the pharm. companies, I can't remember which one.

[Meems]

shop around.

we have private insurance through a major insurance company and they never asked. DD was about 10 months old at the time we applied and is not vaccinated.

[k9sarchik]

I have a feeling that individual insurance is looked at in his way..... Insurance companies are businesses. They can and will provide their business to whom they deem not a risk to their business. They feel that kids who are not vaxed are walking time bombs that will cost them money. (which we all know is really stupid).
My hairdresser has 3 kids. None of them were vaxed. But my hairdresser had no problem with having health insurance until her new baby arrived. Then after they noticed that she was not vaxing her baby they dropped coverage for the whole family. Now she is on some sort of "black list" because she has called every insurance company and she is denied by all of them.

If you can get some sort of group insurance then they can't drop you.

Someone mentioned to me that it might be considered group insurance if you join National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) and get health insurance through them....assuming you need individual insurance due to being self-employed and not with a company.

Good luck.

[ZoeyZoo]

What state are you in? I know in some states they have a formula and if you meet the points in their formula the company has to take you.

[claddaghmom]

Hmm interesting. We bought individual insurance and they didn't ask about vax status.