Insurance Coverage For Uncommon Diseases
In the United States, Healthcare Reform has been a hot-button topic this year. Now that the legislation has gone through and we wait to see how our lives will be impacted by it, there remains one point that should not be lost: we are our own best advocates.
If you are diagnosed with an unusual medical condition, disease, or disorder, you may discover that coverage for your treatment is not a “given”. Policies vary widely over what they will cover, and the phrase "medically necessary" has an extremely broad interpretation.
Too often, coverage is denied after treatment has begun, leaving the patient to either foot the bill or fight their insurance company.
Reform is unlikely to change this.
I have been affected personally by limited coverage for a little-known disorder. I suffer from, and blog about, hyperhidrosis, a disorder that affects more than 9 million Americans. People with hyperhidrosis have abnormal sweat patterns, which can result in depression, social anxiety, and other issues.
Society in general is unaware that this actually is a medical disorder that can and should be treated. Not coincidentally, many insurance policies offer limited coverage for hyperhidrosis. All too often, I hear from someone who just cannot get the treatment they need because their policy does not cover it.
Is it wrong? You bet.
Will it change? Only if we force the issue.
I am not trying to demonize the health insurance industry here. There are some health insurance companies who do provide outstanding coverage for hyperhidrosis, as well as many other "orphan" diseases. However, this should be the rule, not the exception. It is not unreasonable to expect insurance coverage for legitimate medical treatments prescribed by a doctor, regardless of the notoriety of the condition.
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati