Help, I have a question

[Mike0721]

How do I get insurance[medical],with MS? No one will write me.

[diemyn]

I've not been diagnosed with MS, but have endometriosis, which is a chronically painful incurable diseaes and was denied by SSD twice and have appealed to be seen in court. I don't have an attorney, but the forms I filled out say that you should describe how your diagnosed condition disables you and not to describe the effects of undiagnosed conditions or speculate. Does anyone have an opinion on whether or not I should bring up my MS symptoms at the hearing? I'm worried that if I start to talk about it I'll sound like I'm bsing to get an easy ride cuz of the extent of my problems. I have this fear cuz of how my many doctors treated me. None of them would even read the sheet I had typed out with detailed accounts of each one; they left it in the room after just glancing at it once.

Thanks for any help,
Diemyn

[cydney27]

Hi Mike,
I can only tell you what I have experienced.  If you are diagnosed and are currently uninsured, you will remain that way.  I have called every major insurance carrier in my state, and am considered "uninsurable".  If you are currently insured, you may change carriers and stay insured. I worked in HR for many years, and the carriers will and must insure you if you are already carrying insurance.  

If you are like me, and uninsured, with a diagnosis, your next step is to find an attorney and apply for SSD, once you have SSD it takes about 2 years (according to SS), for Medicare to catch up to you. .

Good Luck!!

Cydney

[greenandchic]

This is a very good question (keeping this on pg. 1).  I am not diagnosed yet (doctor's appointment tomorrow to go over MRI that took place today), but I will be in your boat when we relocate from Berkeley, CA to Portland, OR this year.  I may not have a job for a while so I am either going to pay $600/mo for COBRA or go without.

The semi-good news is, both me and my fiancee have single member LLCs so we MAY be able to get some sort of group insurance, somehow, but I dont know much about group insurance for the self-employed yet.  

[lmax0021]

Hi Mike

I don't really know much about insurance issues. I was just diagnosed in Nov 08 and I'm lucky enough to have insurance through work. I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to have ms and be without it.

I just wanted to say what a small world.... we are practically neighbors!! I live in Spring Hill and grew up in the Port Richey area.  I do know of a pcp in your area, Ivan Ramos, who has been known to tx patients without insurance or money.....might be worth a shot if you need to see someone.  Also, not sure if you know, but most of the drug companies offer help with meds to those w/ little or no insurance.....so don't let the insurance issue stop you from getting treatment!!!!

Hope you are able to find some answers and help...
Robin

[opie74]

Well, in some states....

In my state, a new employer must offer their insurance to any new-hire and their family.  If you currently had insurance, they must accept you and pay from day one; even for pre-existing conditions.  If you do no currently have insurance, you have a pre-existing contition clause.  They do not have to cover pre-existing conditions for 1 year.  

The same applies to the spouce.  During open enrollment period or it the spiuce is a new hire.

Every state is diff.

[jensequitur]

Health insurance is almost impossible to get if you have a pre-existing condition, like MS.  I know it seems ridiculous, but there you go.  This is why I'm terrified of losing my current job - without continuous health coverage, I'll be up a creek.

[doni54]

Hi Mike, and welcome to the forum.  I'm without health ins myself, but I am undx.  

As Shelly says, lbradley is a great source of info.  She is helping me through some of this.

Good luck, and hope you will stick around with us.  This is a really great place.

doni

[sllowe]

Welcome Mike!

Oh boy, I don't know either.  But like Lu says, were you dx'd already?

Does your state have any MS Centers?

I do think we have a couple on the forum who know more, so lets all keep this on the 1st page for Mike.

"lbradley" one of our forum members comes to mind ref. insurance knowledge and "Momzilla."

We'll hit them up for you and see what we can do.

Hope you like it here, though we tend to scare men off I think...lol
See you around,
shell

[Lulu54]

Hi Mike,
Can we assume that you have already been diagnosed officially?  

I honestly don't have an answer for you but someone wiser on this forum may have some personal experience with insurance that they can share.  

Welcome to our MS community - I hope you will find it helpful for you.

My best, Lulu