What Do I Put on My Application?
I am in the process of completing an application for health insurance and I am not sure how much I need to put on the application. There are 2 things that I don’t think I even need to mention. I have a mole on my shoulder and I also have an ingrown toenail. These things seem so minor and hardly worth mentioning. I am not on any medications, but I don’t want these little things to cause a problem. What should I do?
We are assuming that since the application you are completing has a series of health questions, you are applying for an individual health insurance policy in a state that allows the insurance companies to decline if based on health history. Is this correct? Is there a specific question on the application for which either of these minor concerns may be categorized under? If so, please reply with the exact wording of those questions so we can help you decipher what they are asking.
Yes, that is right. I want to apply with Health Net in California for a personal plan. They ask a bunch of questions that I am supposed to say yes or no about. One of them says Psoriasis, keratosis, herpes, burns, birthmarks, warts, or any other skin disorder. Do I need to say yes and tell them about the mole? It doesn’t say anything about a mole. Then these is another question that says during the past 12 months, have you or any applying family members experienced symptoms for which a physician has not been consulted? Would I put the ingrown toenail for this question, even if I never plan on going to the doctor for it?
Comment by Leslie — November 27, 2006 @ 10:05 am
It is always advisable to be completely honest on your insurance application. There is a good chance that the insurance company may want you to be seen by a physician for a diagnosis of both of these things before they approve your application. For the mole, they will want to make sure it is not pre-cancerous. For the ingrown toenail, they may want to make sure there is no risk of infection. If you do not list these items on your application, and you need medical attention for either of them in the future, Health Net would have the right to cancel your coverage because you failed to disclose this information to them. Since the application process may take some time, especially if you need to see a physician, do not cancel your current health insurance. If you do not currently have health insurance, or a COBRA or HIPAA option available, you might consider purchasing a short-term health plan to cover you while you are going through the approval process.
Comment by admin — November 27, 2006 @ 10:06 am
Thanks. Will a short-term plan pay for the doctor’s visit to look at the mole and the toenail?
Comment by Leslie — November 27, 2006 @ 10:06 am
No. Short-term health plans do not cover treatment of pre-existing conditions.
Comment by admin — November 27, 2006 @ 10:07 am
My application for health insurance with Blue Shield of New Jersey was denied recently because I stupidly was so naïve as to believe that it pays to be honest. My psychologist in university gave me an referral to a therapist he knew so I could get some talking therapy, yet all this ‘holistic’ therapists did was give a diagnosis of ‘major depression’ in order for me to get insurance. That was one big mistake! Ok, I saved a few hundred on the bills, but now I can’t get individual health insurance anymore. I am self employed so that’s a big problem for me. What I am really worried about is if the company will share this information with the MIB database, so I won’t be able to get insurance for the next many years. I am a very healthy person and I have never been on medication.
Comment by Jeremy — June 23, 2009 @ 10:22 am