 |
 |
I have been quietly monitoring the list serve for about 6 months. I have been diagnosed as PD for about 2 years. The onset came after being exposed to about one year of VERY HIGH STRESS work. I changed job nine months ago to another small company and much less stress in a rewarding position managing an engineering field office. That is background information for what comes next. In changing company, I announced to the owners that I had PD and I wanted to make sure that the insurance company would underwrite my coverage. The company was The Fortis Company, St. Paul MN, and other than the usual 6 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions when a new employee is added to an existing policy, all went well. As an austerity move, my new employer recently changed carrier to the Starmark Insurance Co. out of Lake Forest, IL. In attempting to do the right thing, the HR person informed Starmark that I have a pre-existing condition. Starmark requested all the doctor's records which amounted to my evaluation visits and a MRI test. My meds are Sinemet 25/100 and Elderpril 5mg 2x daily amounting to $200/months of prescription costs. I'm 48 years young, exercise two to three times per week and otherwise in excellent health. I don't see myself as an insurance risk. The new carrier recently wrote a letter to my company benefits person and informed them that they would have to pay $2,000 per month to include me in their policy. I was totally taken back by this position, let alone at the new risk of losing my job when the company figures out that it will cost them an additional $24,000 per year to keep me around. I found a good job with a friendly company, but like all businesses, they are in business for profit, not just to keep me in a job. Now the questions: 1. Has anyone had a similar problem with their insurance carrier? 2. Does anyone have any experience with insurance carriers segregating PD patients from the list of those others with pre-existing conditions? 3. Has anyone approached the insurance commissioners in their state with a similar problem, and if so, what was the outcome? 4. Is anyone knowledgeable of what protection may be available from the American Disabilities Act for PD patients? Thank you for putting up with my rambling. This is a real-time job and security concern for me. I look forward to hearing what experiences others of you may have had on this subject. God Bless You.