MetaChat - Newborn denied health insurance because of preexisting condition

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

27 March 2010

Newborn denied health insurance because of preexisting condition This one hits me pretty hard because that could have been my kid. We have the same insurance company, and my son was born with that precise heart condition. Luckily for us, BCBS didn't choose to deny coverage. (He's perfectly fine now--TGA is a condition that is completely corrected by one very precise and very expensive procedure.)

post by: fogovonslack at: 19:11 | 7 comments

Seems the issue was that the parents didn't have health insurance - but their 2 other kids did.

Regardless I hope there's some people dragged over coals for making such a ridiculous decision.

posted by gomichild 27 March | 20:00

This is the suck.

Can you all please please please be Canadian for the next few years? Have what I have. Really - I'm not using it all. Please take some of mine.

posted by hangashore 27 March | 23:13

"How can he have a pre-existing condition if the baby didn't exist until now?" Tracy asked.

Apparently Tracy is not pro-choice.

posted by Ardiril 28 March | 01:05

Ok, "born with it" is pretty much the definition of "preexisting condition".

And this is exactly why terms like "preexisting condition" should not exist.

posted by dabitch 28 March | 12:58

p.s fogovonslack glad your child is doing well, that must be really scary to have to go through. Also glad that baby in the story is doing well now.

posted by dabitch 28 March | 12:59

At some point in my lifetime, insurance companies went from being in the insurance business to being in the risk-avoidance business. This story is the kind of head-asplodey bullshit that makes me crazy: the telling detail is that mom and dad couldn't afford insurance so they made the choice to purchase coverage for their two kids. Which gives the insurance company a legal way to weasel out. THE GAME IS RIGGED LETS STOP PLAYING.

posted by BitterOldPunk 28 March | 15:14

Odd neonatal intensive care moment: NICU nurse tells me that TGA is her favorite birth defect.

PS-Boston Children's Hospital is totally awesome. Also, you can see Fenway Park from the NICU.

posted by fogovonslack 28 March | 21:01

← since some of you ask occasionally || Star Wars Cookies →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN