POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Insurance, Benefits Programs & HIV => Topic started by: camille07 on October 27, 2012, 01:31:33 pm
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I started my new job Friday. I will be changing over to the company's insurance wednesday. However, on the form it asks if I have a pre-existing condition, and I will need to explain my answer on a separate piece of paper (it is required according to the paperwork). Not a problem but I have to share offices with the HR/ Executive assistant since we are moving offices on Nov. 20th.
Basically, she's going to look over it and see my HIV pos status. She's really nice, but whispered to me that she went to an infectious disease doctor cause of her constant sinus infections. I'm super sensitive to this because my neighbor thought my husband may have given her hiv (even though he's negative) because they shared a drink of coke. This happened only a month ago.
I do not live in the sticks or a cave. I live in the heart on the hip of NJ and work in Princeton, I mean come on already.
Any thoughts as to what I can put on that paper....open to all funny and creative suggestions.
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Hey Camms,
Wow. What an unusual situation from this view.
Aside from noting you have HIV, what more is there to disclose or explain?
Why does it require a separate sheet of paper? I hate this phrase, but "It is what it is." If the sheet is mandatory, I would only write I have HIV and am seen regularly by a physician and am doing well. OR enlist your doc to write the right stuff.
Why did your soon-to-be cubicle-mate "whisper" she went to an ID doc for her sinus infection -- how on earth does that topic rate the level of a whisper? Or does she do the same for all talk? (Pssst, got my teeth cleaned last week.)
As to your neighbor -- does she know you're positive and assumed your husband is OR is she simply paranoid that everyone is a disease-carrying threat and HIV comes via the mouth. Wow -- no matter what your answer is.
Take care.
Em
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Hey Camille,
Do you know if having a pre-existing condition affects your coverage?
Skeebo
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skeebo- from what i read on other forum posts, if it's through a company's insurance, having a pre-existing does not affect my insurance.
Em- She is very gregarious, and animated, my co associate. We got to talking about sinus infections and whispered "infectious disease" doctor. Like the way people would talk about cancer. Weird right? I'm thinking, oh brother.
My neighbor, yes, knows I am positive. The whole story is that she's in her late 50's and has MS. I was over at her house having coffee and said she was really glad her test came out negative. I said "what test?" And just matter of fact she says my HIV test. HIV test???what are talking about. And she said I just wanted to make sure after your husband and I were sharing that soda weeks ago. :o
And the funny part is that he's negative. As if it's gonna skip on over him and attach to her!
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Hiya
Let's hope the HR lady's gregarious nature translates to open-mindedness and at a minimum that she knows how protective she should be of you.
If it were me in the same spot, I'd call my ID just to get another perspective on the right amount of info to write. Do they ask specific questions about the pre-existing condition?
If so, I might enlist my doc's help in completing it. That way, the insurance company knows right from the monitor's pen what's up.
Re: lady next door. Ah well. You like her enough you trusted her. She's feeling vulnerable due to MS. Perfect candidate for a mini-course on how great it is to have a friend like you -- open, trusting and health-conscious! (oh yes and a little transmission info, too)
Keep us posted as you'll be doing this in a couple of days.
Em
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skeebo- from what i read on other forum posts, if it's through a company's insurance, having a pre-existing does not affect my insurance.
That is what my wife and I thought too, however, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama states otherwise. In one of the clauses in our policy it states that we would have to wait 6 months until coverage would kick in regardless of the circumstance.
It's strange that they ask you if it really doesn't matter.
In our case, after dealing with HR, and getting a very frustrating run around, we had a friend who works for United Health look into our policy for us-- they can be rather wordy.
She found, in our case, since we had insurance through our last employer that as long as we provided a letter of credibility showing a lapse of insurance of no more than 30 days that we were excluded from the pre-existing clause in our current policy.
This was something the current HR person failed to tell us and/or realize.
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I have NJ Horizon now and will be switching over to aetna. Aetna says on the form "This information may ONLY be used to determine if a condition is pre-existing condition. You CANNOT be denied coverage under a health benefits plan on the basis of accurate responses to the following questions. Carriers can only use this information to expedite the processing of claims...(SURE)!
Then it goes on to ask all the questions....have you in the last 6 months be diagnosed or treated for any of the following: a laundry list of illness
Then if you answered yes to the above....
I'm going to try to contact my doctor, but we're about to get hit with the mother of all storms in the next few days. I will keep you posted as someone might learn something from this.
As for the neighbor, she's on so many meds that I think it makes her memory shotty. She gets a pass from me. Never kept her from being a very loving neighbor.
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Good luck with the storm.
This backs up what Skeebs was sharing (closer to the end of the piece) -- worth reading before dialing up the doc. Super basic info. http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/healthinsurancebasics/a/preexisting_conditions_overview.htm
Glad the neighbor is a keeper. Would not trade conditions for sure. Stay warm and dry.
Great to see your name pop up.
Em
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I have NJ Horizon now and will be switching over to aetna. Aetna says on the form "This information may ONLY be used to determine if a condition is pre-existing condition. You CANNOT be denied coverage under a health benefits plan on the basis of accurate responses to the following questions. Carriers can only use this information to expedite the processing of claims...(SURE)!
Then it goes on to ask all the questions....have you in the last 6 months be diagnosed or treated for any of the following: a laundry list of illness
Then if you answered yes to the above....
I'm going to try to contact my doctor, but we're about to get hit with the mother of all storms in the next few days. I will keep you posted as someone might learn something from this.
As for the neighbor, she's on so many meds that I think it makes her memory shotty. She gets a pass from me. Never kept her from being a very loving neighbor.
That's certainly good to hear. To be honest I thought Obama had wiped out all of that pre-existing mumbo jumbo, so I was quite shocked when the wife and I had to jump through hoops to get around it.
Your neighbor is something else..lol
I've disclosed my positive status to two HR departments thus far since being diagnosed. I've had nothing but good results come about because of it. The job I had in Florida had a point system in place for employees who missed days for various reasons. Once you reached 5 points you were out the door. While I never abused it in any way, the point system did not apply to me, at least for absences that is. If I was sick I had a special number to call in Boston, the company headquarters, and it was immediately excused.
Good luck with everything, and let us know how it goes.
Skeebo
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I have Aetna also - through my employer paid coverage - they have no problem w/ pre-existing conditions...
As for the HR person, I would probably preface her viewing the document with a statment to her (in a friendly way of course) that you trust that she will keep your status in confidance - or, perhaps she doesn't have to see the attached sheet (maybe that is why the insurance company does that - so that the employer/HR person who handles the paper application only sees that you have a pre-existing without knowing exactly what the diagnosis is -
You could always call the insurance company rep and see if you can send the sheet in separately or put it in a sealed envelope separate from the app w/ pre existing checked and attach it...
Although, I am hopeful that the HR person that you are working with is like most of the people that I have encountered at my job who know my status ---- they have really had a non-reaction, and if anything, have been nothing but supportive.
Best to you on the new job! Aetna is a pretty good plan overall - Mine is an HMO, but open access, so I don't need referrals to see a specialist as long as they are in-network.
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"You could always call the insurance company rep and see if you can send the sheet in separately or put it in a sealed envelope separate from the app w/ pre existing checked and attach it..." That's a good suggestion!
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Yes, that's a great idea! Thank you.
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That is what my wife and I thought too, however, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama states otherwise. In one of the clauses in our policy it states that we would have to wait 6 months until coverage would kick in regardless of the circumstance.
It's strange that they ask you if it really doesn't matter.
In our case, after dealing with HR, and getting a very frustrating run around, we had a friend who works for United Health look into our policy for us-- they can be rather wordy.
She found, in our case, since we had insurance through our last employer that as long as we provided a letter of credibility showing a lapse of insurance of no more than 30 days that we were excluded from the pre-existing clause in our current policy.
This was something the current HR person failed to tell us and/or realize.
If you have been continually covered by health insurance they CAN NOT decline any coverage for a pre-existing condition (actually you could have a break for something like 61 days -- I forget exactly -- and still not be denied coverage of pre-existing conditions). That has been the law for years -- completely unrelated to Obama's law. Don't let Alabama BCBS screw you.......
Mike
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She is the HR manager's executive assistant? Or she IS the HR manager? If she is the executive assistant, than in my opinion you should provide this material directly to the manager, only. And if you get any sort of unprofessional vibe, politely let slip a word or two about your legal right to privacy.
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Other thoughts . . . .
You might want to simply say "yes,' pre-existing conditions exist, note from doctor to follow" and have your physician write the insurer directly, by-passing the HR office. Since the HR office does NOT make any decision on thia, you can argue that HIPPA protects you.
On the other hand, I am one who has pointed out to my HR Director that I am HIV positive, AND, at the same time, pointed out that HIV Poz is covered under the Americans With Disabilities Act. If I should ever need time off for illness, doctors, or even a nap mid-day, I will rely on that, and push it if need be.
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Well, I have an update...a very different update, then what you might be expecting.
I live on a cliff, not proverbial, or analogous cliff, but really a cliff on the western part of the Raritan Bay. I can see the Verazzano Bridge in the distance, staten island to my left, jersey towns to my right far across I can see coney island and the rockaways on a clear day. We were affected by Sandy greatly. I grew up in Toms River my whole life and just had my hs reunion in Seaside. Many friends lost their homes. Then I read about staten island and grieve for their loss of life on the coast I can see. I read about how many in Queens are suffering in a landscape like "Escape from New York," and want to punch someone in the throat.
On the 3rd day, I was called into my new job. I would have to find a gas station to get out to Princeton, to then be shuttled to Philly since they had no power. I had only 41 miles left in my tank after filling it right before the storm. I woke early, after boiling water and getting ready with candle light. I found a cop who told me there wasn't a gas station in a 30 mile radius. At this point I was forced home. The executive assistant lived a few towns away, closer to Princeton and couldn't find gas either. Her husband drove south and found gas.
Well, later that day, I got a call around noon. If I didn't make it in, I would be terminated. I thought, my goodness, "then terminate me."
Can you believe it? They fired me when everything was shut down. If that's the kind of company they are, then I don't want to work for them.
Funny how you worry about certain situations, and they never come to fruition.
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That's awful Camille. I really don't know what to say. I feel horrible for what you folks are going through in that area. It must really rough. And now more high winds today. Stay safe.
And I hope you're able to sort out another job soon.
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Hey Camms,
So sorry to read this -- first about your friends and loved ones and your childhood setting, but also your present day challenges.
I am shocked -- was it convenient for them to use that as the reason to cut back rapidly? Is it a company you truly wanted to work for? If so, I would ask if there is going to be any reconsideration considering you didn't have power, nor fuel, to enable you to come to work.
Please keep us posted and hope you're warm and dry tonight. Damn Nor'easter.
Em
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And she said I just wanted to make sure after your husband and I were sharing that soda weeks ago. :o
This is the part where you are supposed to tell her that you have been sharing more than a soda with him, lol.
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On the 3rd day, I was called into my new job. I would have to find a gas station to get out to Princeton, to then be shuttled to Philly since they had no power. I had only 41 miles left in my tank after filling it right before the storm. I woke early, after boiling water and getting ready with candle light. I found a cop who told me there wasn't a gas station in a 30 mile radius. At this point I was forced home. The executive assistant lived a few towns away, closer to Princeton and couldn't find gas either. Her husband drove south and found gas.
Well, later that day, I got a call around noon. If I didn't make it in, I would be terminated. I thought, my goodness, "then terminate me."
Can you believe it? They fired me when everything was shut down. If that's the kind of company they are, then I don't want to work for them.
Funny how you worry about certain situations, and they never come to fruition.
That is terrible, sorry about the job loss. I hope you will still get your unemployment benefits.
It sounds like they were a terrible company to work with, and parting ways is the best thing for you, ultimately.
I was terminated while on disability by a former employer after my HIV diagnosis, so I know how it feels like to work for a shitty company.
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Talk about a kick in the gut, that's just awful Cam. Well, I guess it's good that they showed what kind of company they are and how they think of their own employees. It's really not the kind of company I would want to work for.
I hope things get better for you, it sounds pretty rough right now out there.
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Camms, so sorry to read this. But you're right, you don't need to work for a company that's going to fire someone right after that hurricane. Really? That's so tacky.
I hope you're able to find a company worthy of your talent. And I hope everything gets stabilized in that part of the country. Hang in there, girl.
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Hey Camms,
Had another thought about this...are you eligible for UEC from your previous work?
I was thinking it should be defensible that accepting this position prevented you from accepting/seeking others. Perhaps it's not even relevant, but figured I'd pass it along.
Are you warm enough?
Em
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Back at the house today, and it feels so good. Power is finally back. Some parts of jersey are on day 13. I feel for them.
I'm going to work park time starting Tuesday again. And hopefully find some freelance.
I can't collect unemployment since it was only one day that I worked at my new job...lucifer Inc.
Thank you for all the kind words :)
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Camms,
Glad you're okay and starting some new work.
Were you employed prior to that first day that UEC might be based on previous work?
Further, I would just find out if there's any recourse for you in such an odd circumstance that they gave you an impossible hurdle to jump post-Sandy.
Em
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Camms,
Just came to this thread.
So sorry to hear about the "Lucifer, Inc." trial you went through.
Good to know that your power is back.
Hope you find another job soon.
Take care.