Anyone buying health insurance should NOT fill out the questionnaire by themselves unless you have a medical background. This was the advice given to me by my doctor. He suggested I bring the form to him and get the answers correct. There a lot of seemingly trick questions if you don't understand all the medical terms and exactly what your medications are for. As an example my form asked if I was taking medication for high blood pressure. Mine has always been normal to slightly low so my answer was NO. My doctor pointed out that I am in fact taking a medication for something else that is also used for high blood pressure. An insurance company would likely use that to deny a claim due to me not disclosing the correct answer. There was a program on 20/20 giving an example of a Canadian that made an honest mistake on the questionnaire and Manulife denied a huge claim of over $200,000. It stated they would probably loose their home. It's not worth the risk.

Thanks for the info.It sounds a lot like most 'Extended Warranties', the goal of the company is take your money and then do everything to deny your claims. :E

In the USA we can thank the HIPAA laws for making medical records stay in the 19th century. Imagine, your health history is expected to be carried around in your brain.It would be nice if there were an 'opt out' option from HIPAA and you could release all your prescription computer records to the company asking for that information. Easy and certainly accurate.

homefor2 wrote:Anyone buying health insurance should NOT fill out the questionnaire by themselves unless you have a medical background. This was the advice given to me by my doctor. He suggested I bring the form to him and get the answers correct. There a lot of seemingly trick questions if you don't understand all the medical terms and exactly what your medications are for. As an example my form asked if I was taking medication for high blood pressure. Mine has always been normal to slightly low so my answer was NO. My doctor pointed out that I am in fact taking a medication for something else that is also used for high blood pressure. An insurance company would likely use that to deny a claim due to me not disclosing the correct answer. There was a program on 20/20 giving an example of a Canadian that made an honest mistake on the questionnaire and Manulife denied a huge claim of over $200,000. It stated they would probably loose their home. It's not worth the risk.It is a little unclear to me what you are attempting to say. Are you referring to the Canadian healthcare system, the US healthcare system, some other private policy, or what?

You do not want to tell them your taking a medication for high blood pressure when you are not. This is just going to cost you money and is bad advice.

Health Insurance - Caution | Good Sam Community

gbopp
Explorer
Nov 30, 2016
Thanks for the info.

It sounds a lot like most 'Extended Warranties', the goal of the company is take your money and then do everything to deny your claims. :E
wildtoad
Explorer II
Nov 30, 2016
This must be a Canadian thing.
2oldman
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2016
In the USA we can thank the HIPAA laws for making medical records stay in the 19th century. Imagine, your health history is expected to be carried around in your brain.

It would be nice if there were an 'opt out' option from HIPAA and you could release all your prescription computer records to the company asking for that information. Easy and certainly accurate.
DanNJanice
Explorer
Dec 01, 2016
homefor2 wrote:
Anyone buying health insurance should NOT fill out the questionnaire by themselves unless you have a medical background. This was the advice given to me by my doctor. He suggested I bring the form to him and get the answers correct. There a lot of seemingly trick questions if you don't understand all the medical terms and exactly what your medications are for. As an example my form asked if I was taking medication for high blood pressure. Mine has always been normal to slightly low so my answer was NO. My doctor pointed out that I am in fact taking a medication for something else that is also used for high blood pressure. An insurance company would likely use that to deny a claim due to me not disclosing the correct answer.

There was a program on 20/20 giving an example of a Canadian that made an honest mistake on the questionnaire and Manulife denied a huge claim of over $200,000. It stated they would probably loose their home. It's not worth the risk.

It is a little unclear to me what you are attempting to say. Are you referring to the Canadian healthcare system, the US healthcare system, some other private policy, or what?
ScottG
Nomad
Dec 01, 2016
You do not want to tell them your taking a medication for high blood pressure when you are not. This is just going to cost you money and is bad advice.
OH48Lt
Explorer
Dec 01, 2016
The medication may also be used for hypertension (high blood pressure), but if you're not taking it for that condition, and you haven't been diagnosed as having that condition, then "no" would be the correct answer. There are MANY drugs out there that have approved by the FDA for multiple diagnoses.
coolmom42
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2016
Why is a Canadian buying health insurance?

And under current law in the US (although this may change) health insurance cannot exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.
You_can_t_take_
Explorer
Dec 01, 2016
coolmom42 wrote:
Why is a Canadian buying health insurance?

And under current law in the US (although this may change) health insurance cannot exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.

The OP is referring to travel insurance for Canadians travelling outside their province of residence, or abroad... such as to the USA. Believe me.. when you have a medical problem in the USA and no travel insurance protection, the bills add up very quickly. My own experience was a bill for $24,000 US for less than a 24 hour hospital stay. I was not even formally admitted! Fortunately my insurance company stepped up to the plate!!
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Dec 01, 2016
WOW.......
Member from Canada posting Health Insurance Info in Snowbird section and folks jump to US Healthcare issues :S

Come on...
OP is talking about insurance coverage while visiting in US and the need to correctly fill out ins. questionnaire for coverage while in US.

No would be correct answer for question about 'having high blood pressure' BUT seeing as that same medication is used for blood pressure AND other conditions OP would need to make it known that that medication IS being taken BUT for such and such condition.
Hard to know that without medical training.....so advice from OP to the Canadians visiting about getting together with their Doctor and filling out questionnaire is good advice
almcc
Explorer
Dec 01, 2016
Yes, the OP gives good advice. Another example that could give the insurer a window to deny coverage. If you have had a colonoscopy it's not considered an operation (in answer to the question about recent operations). However,if a polyp was removed during that colonoscopy then you have had an operation! That info came from a broker selling out of country insurance, so one of his clients must have got tripped up!

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