After a hiatus, The ACA Database returns with a vengeance this week. Look for entries every day this week. If you have a question about how the ACA works or have had problems with the exchanges or your coverage, send us an email. We’ll publish the questions we like:
Secure Undisclosed location, USA asks:
Is it ok to lie to my insurance company? I know that the Affordable Care Act makes it illegal for insurance companies to deny me coverage for a pre-existing condition, which means that I no longer have to worry about being rejected for health coverage on the basis of my medical history. But what do I have tell my insurance company? What if I want to not disclose a condition, for example? Can my policy still be cancelled or a procedure not covered?I have a history of that involves a lot of things that I’d rather not talk about: an embarrassing STD, a hospitalization for severe depression, several other things that would have allowed insurers to reject me. I have several reasons why I’d rather not disclose this information:
1. I do not want to be stigmatized. 2. I do not want my treatment options or my choice of doctors to be limited on the basis of what my insurance company thinks is better for me.
In the old days, if you lied on your application, you could later be denied coverage. What happens now?
Categories: Uncategorized
Honesty is the best “policy” pardon the pun! I think being forthcoming about any and all pre-existing conditions is the way to go because the truth will catch up to you in the end.
I think a lot of people assume they don’t have to worry about this anymore. I think they’re probably wrong. In a way the gray area makes things even more dangerous ..
Tough problem. In general probably not going to clarify absent some litigation (assuming inadequate fine print policy specifics pertaining to required disclosure).