POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Insurance, Benefits Programs & HIV => Topic started by: contagion on April 18, 2012, 02:02:44 am

Title: Work Insurance
Post by: contagion on April 18, 2012, 02:02:44 am

Sorry if this has been discussed before but couldn't find anything. My job provides insurance at a discounted rate through a national carrier. My company employs around 50 people.The premium is automatically deducted from my pay. Now what I wanted to know is that if I go on meds can I denied insurance because of higher costs? Can my employer find out about my status?

Title: Re: Work Insurance
Post by: Miss Philicia on April 18, 2012, 08:52:00 am

Your employer just gets a monthly bill for the group premium. They don't get to see your medical history.

Title: Re: Work Insurance
Post by: leatherman on April 18, 2012, 10:24:29 am

and don't forget, once you start meds, to check with the manufacturer's website to get the information for co-pay assistance. A lot of advocates and the government have worked hard to make sure HIV meds are more affordable for everyone, so make sure to take advantage of their advocacy on your part. ;)

Title: Re: Work Insurance
Post by: OneTampa on April 18, 2012, 09:07:48 pm

Very good responses here.

You may also find the posts to this thread from 2011 helpful:
http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=36081.0

Bottom line, you shouldn't worry.

Take care.

Title: Re: Work Insurance
Post by: contagion on April 18, 2012, 10:50:00 pm

Thanks for the replies guys. Thanks for the link OneTampa..but that thread seems to argue the points on both sides! One says, its illegal for the status to be revealed. While other says its possible to indirectly find out and even layoff that person.  My insurance company charged me for some tests they "don't cover", so I'm thinking they're not going to cover me and call my condition pre-existing condition. So guess I'm paying for everything anyway till I hit my one year maximum out of pocket.