Web site that compares private health insurance plans?

[dmann]

If he is going from a group plan to an individual plan and even if he has had no gap in coverage, believe me, it will be excluded. Been there, done that year before last when I went out on my own.

It is not in the literature because that stuff comes out once the application is submitted for review. That's when they start calling and interviewing you, reviewing your past medical claims and services and seeing what you had done to you and when.

BUT, this is a big BUT, they may just exclude it for a set amount of time. The new ins. co wouldn't cover my allergy or asthma treatments or meds for 1 year. They wouldn't cover my BP meds either. After that, I was covered.

FWIW- went from a group Aetna plan to an individual BCBSIL. To be honest, I was shocked BCBSIL picked me up at all.

Last thing to keep in mind, I started out in December of '07 with a premium of $263/month for very good coverage (Select Blue Advantage.) Same policy is now running me $384.

An insurance broker I know said that UnitedHealth was relatively liberal in their policies. No idea about rates.

Good luck. The whole thing sucks rotten eggs.
DM

[Black]

Thanks to all.
I kind of suspected I would have nothing of any use to provide, but will pass along the sites anyways-- one of his kids can hopefully help with it.

[Lux Interior]

dmann wrote:
The new ins. co wouldn't cover my allergy or asthma treatments or meds for 1 year. They wouldn't cover my BP meds either. After that, I was covered.

Wow. That makes a lot of sense. They will insure you, but not cover medications which may reduce the overall cost of insuring you long term.

I'm sure their bean counters have run the numbers, though.

[mattkime]

davester wrote:
[quote=mattkime]
he should be fine as long as he has no gap in coverage.

What planet have you been living on?
New York. I'm quite certain this is the case here,

[AllGold]

Like I said, it's different in different states.

In Michigan, pre-existing conditions are excluded for only six months instead of a year.

Also, Michigan has a health insurance provider of last resort: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. They can not decline anyone (although they can still jack up your rates into the stratosphere). Most states don't have anything like this.