posted on Dec, 15 2011 @ 11:10 AM
My spouse works for a big company and we have good medical insurance. We pay quite a bit in premiums and always have.
Insurance does NOT pay for the things that keep us healthy: fruits and vegetables, exercise, chiropractic or alternative health care, vitamins,
healthy food properly prepared, stress reduction and yoga, homeopathics.
Ok, fair enough.
A few years back, we were urged by the company to participate in "health evaluation surveys". A $50 gift card was attached to this "optional"
survey. Questions included: smoking, drinking, levels of stress. At that time I told my spouse that within 10 years the insurance company would
dictate our lives.
Friends of ours chose NOT to take any surveys. They were politely pursued by the company.
This year the hammer fell. Everyone HAS to take the evaluation survey or pay 20% more in premiums. Questions included: how much fat do you eat, how
much alcohol do you drink and how often, do you wear a seatbelt, do you use sunscreen, do you have stress, how many vegetables do you eat, do you
smoke, how much do you sleep, have you had a traumatic event this year, how's your cholesterol, how's your blood pressure, how much do you weigh,
how much exercise do you get, etc.
IF you tell less than the truth, the insurance company MAY withhold benefits (ex: you are in an accident and were not wearing a seat belt)
IF an answer concerns them (the amount of fat I eat, for example) there is a phone call to me and the offer of the free services of a diet
coach/nurse. I got one of those last night.
If you refuse the phone call and the offer of a free nurse, you get a letter urging you to use this "free benefit" of wellness coaching. My friend
got one of those the other day.
Right now the cost of insurance will go up if there is a smoker IN THE HOUSE. I say it is only 5 years before weight of the insured will make the
cost go up.
My response to the (very polite) insurance people these days is: "will the insurance company pay for broccoli, a proven anti-cancer food? I will
abide by your rules once you pay for all the things it takes to keep me healthy."
Please be aware of all the subtle things going on with health insurance companies.
Look at what you pay for premiums and think about all that going into a special savings account JUST for major medical problems.
I had a major illness a few years ago. My spouse carefully studied the bills and what the insurance paid out to the hospital. It was one tenth of
the bill. Had we kept the insurance premium money in an interest bearing account over the years, we could have just paid the hospital and doctors
ourselves.
Scary times. I just want to give a heads up. Learn to care for yourself and your small illnesses and injuries. Eat well and exercise any way you
can.