Avatar Posted by mains 53 days ago (Question)
Can seeking out treatment for mild depression make it harder to get health insurance in the future?

Could it negatively impact my existing health insurance?

Should I just pay cash for mental-related treatment so it doesn't negatively affect my health insurance rates/choices?

Issues (untreated): mild depression, insomnia, migraines
Other health issues: none. Never used my insurance for treatment.


Answers

Written by Chemar 53 days ago Rating: 1 | Rate Answer: + -

honestly dont know the answer to this but I do know I have heard many health insurance companies pick on anything they can to deny etc.

hopefully someone with more knowledge on this can provide you with a clearer answer

Written by psyguy 52 days ago Rating: 1 | Rate Answer: + -

Current health insurance guidelines stipulate that some conditions may be used in consideration of customer's insurance rates and, in some instances, the availability of some privately-secured health insurance. However, the strictures vary company to company, policy to policy, but not broadly.

Factors that insurance companies often consider are:

*The classification and magnitude of the health issue.

*Is it a pre-existing condition during insurance consideration.

*Whether it is treatable, chronic, terminal, etc.

*The expense it would incur for treatment of said condition.

*Risk factors (such as smoking, weight, family history, etc).

In the case where a health problem arises during a coverage period by a health insurance company, nearly all are required to honor their services as underwritten at the time of inception without increases, or minimal increases during that term. They may, by agreement, require co-pays and any deductable expenses written into the policy. And, prescription drug plans vary in costs and availability within policies.

For low-grade depression (and medications that are merely common anti-depressants, not controlled substances), you should see no increases to your insurance costs. Were you diagnosed with a mental illness, or prescribed a controlled substance medication, you may see increases in your costs during future enrollments.

Simply put, so many people are diagnosed with low-grade depression and prescribed medication accordingly, it's become one of the most commonplace health conditions in society today. Insurers actually profit from the condition, and many insurers actual encourage their clients to seek out help for depression by way of their physicians, company outreach programs, and affordable drug plans for anti-depressants.

Life insurance companies, however, can and DO, take medical records of depression into consideration when considering rates and policy availability of an applicant.

Written by Clyde 45 days ago Rating: 0 | Rate Answer: + -

Not being picky, but didnt you ask this already?

Yes, they can and do, but there should also be a mental health parity bill that was passed recently, that should help you.

They do check on pre-existing conditions, yes.

Best,

Clyde


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