DH's company is changing health care insurance. He must fill out a questionnaire as part of change.

We both had an "Uh,oh " moment as they specifically asked "does anyone in your family have MS?" Well, yes, but they ask no specifics. Do they ask and understand my type is PPMS, which has no DMD which really decreases costs. No MRIs anymore for me, why look for change when it's kinda useless to find any. Actually I'm pretty cheap. A little Vesicare, Amantadine, an AB to ward off UTIs. I really am a cheap date, but will they understand? Or will the words Multiple Sclerosis" conjure up words like "devastating" and "progressive" and really, really expensive life-long meds? A doctor who sees me 1x a year now as we both know there is nothing to do.

I feel potentially type-cast and alone in a potential sea of rejection.

(if they dare to reject me are they ready for the fight I'll put up using every tool I can? Well After My Nap of course))

They cannot legally reject you for coverage because you have had continuous coverage with your DH. That is part of HIPAA. So, do not worry. It is actually part of their underwriting process. They are actually determining the group costs. If he is part of a large group, you will be offset by younger healthier people. They might be looking at a lower cost insurance company who requires medical underwriting to set premium rates. Some companies don't do that and just charge a higher starting premium.

At my work, we are part of a very small group, so we pay a little more in premium to stay with a company that does not require underwriting because if they actually looked at our group, it would probably actually end up higher. We have 3 out of 4 employees over 40 (I am 41 and my bosses are in their 50's and 60's - the 4th is 31). So, there is no one young to offset me and my "baggage".

A new Insurance co tried to give me a preexisting time once and I called the Ohio state Insurance bureau. They didn't get by with it..HA!

Get 'em Kicker......after your nap, of course..

President Obama promised this could not happen. They don't dare....... They shouldn't mess with me.

I don't believe you will have any problems, and from what I understand... "after your nap" nobody would dare mess with you!

i don't think you have anything to worry about either.
just answer the Q yes or no. don't elaborate.

All of the health care bill isn't in force yet...they're phasing it in a bit at a time over several years.

DH is part of a large corporation, so we get excellent health care, although we are paying more and more out of pocket each year, which is fine by me....I think we all should pay something.

I always worry that our spouses will get laid off because of our health expenses to the company...

Actually, HIPAA isn't part of Obama's plan. This has been in effect for years. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The portability part means that as long as you have had continuous coverage in force, you cannot be denied by a new company for a preexisting condition.

The part of Obama's plan addressing preexisting conditions affects people who were not protected under HIPAA because they didn't have continuous coverage. Bottom line is that your DH's company can change health insurance every year and you cannot be denied coverage due to your diagnosis.

This is why Cobra coverage is so important to people with preexisting conditions, though. If he became unemployed, it would be critical to pay for Cobra coverage until new insurance was available to keep the "continuous coverage" in place.

I have changed health insurance twice (switched and then switched back to original plan) while having MS dx and did not have a problem. As Holly stated as long as you have the same employer it should not be an issue.

I can't imagine it would impace you. I've changed jobs 7 times since dx and the subject never came up. Of course, those forms didn't specifically say MS.

Just yesterday, I was reading through the application form for "Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program" and was shocked - question #4 says I'm not eligible for the program because I've been diagnosed with MS. This is the first time I've seen the words "multiple sclerosis" on an insurance application form.

Tom