How can a health insurance company do something like this? very confused on this? -

I had a visit two months before I was forced to changed coverage(I was coming off my parents insurance to an individual policy) to a chiropractor's office. The reason for my visit was that I was feeling sort of stiff and that I wanted to see how I'd feel after that. When I obtained my new policy I had an exclusion on it for any outpatient back treament of any kind: due to ongoing back problems. When I called the plan up(golden rule by united healthcare plan 100) they led me to believe it was a misunderstanding and that I should have the doctor send in the information to them for review. Turns out they reviewed the information and the only thing they changed is now I am not "excluded for life" but will be reviewed a year after my policy is in effect to see if I am eligible for these benefits. When I called them up again customer service told me in simple words that if I had gone to any doctor recently any such possible symptoms and conditions would be excluded for at least a year. Insurance companies don't like to insure bad drivers, bad hearts, people with terminal diseases, or people with chronic physical conditions. There's no making of money in that. These companies are not for public service, but for your protection in case of an unforseen condition or accident. In your case, your back problem will not make them money. Good luck and I sincerley hope your back repairs itself, as I've hurt my back badly, but now is fine. The best way to help your back is to keep moving and don't let the muscles shrink or get weak in spots. this is standard policy for most individual policies You can try appealing. But, considering that your doctor already sent in your medical documentation for review, odds are that the appeal won't go in your favor. (Unless there's more medical documentation that the insurer hasn't received yet.) What you're describing sounds pretty standard for an individual policy. You might not encounter the same issues on an employer group policy though - if you have any opportunity to get covered on an employer group policy, I'd try to go that route. Hmmmm...kinda confused....... Pre-existing conditions are carte blance denied for anybody anywhere if you were, at any time prior to the inception of your policy, UNINSURED. Soooooo - what you've written about what the insurance company is correct...if you WERE NOTinsured previously. If you WERE insured previously, you can get a letter from your prior insurance carrier to present to your new insurance carrier to PROVE you had insurance. If ANY time elapsed between when you were insured and then UNINSURED...then yea - they have you between a rock and a hard place. I don't know of ANY insurance that will provide coverage for a previous pre-existing condition if you were previously UN-insured. Good luck to you. ~jifr! You always have the right to file an appeal! It actually works sometimes YES, SIMPLY STATED IT IS CALLED A PREEXISTING CONDITION! insurance companies suck!!! CATCH 22 CANT LIVE W/IT CANT LIVE W/OUT IT!! "customer service told me in simple words that if I had gone to any doctor recently any such possible symptoms and conditions would be excluded for at least a year." in most states, this is normal underwriting action. get used to it. you have the worst healthcare plan on the market. my doctor wont even accept the plan. they're greedy *****es who only care 4 money and not ur health, they wanted to save money by not hving 2 pay 4 ur appointment mayb u can sue them but idk As I understand it, individual policies can exclude almost anything you have been treated for. The only policies that don't are group to group and that is only if you have had no break in coverage. A one year exclusion for a back problem is at least a liveable exclusion. Read the January 08 Consumer Reports magazine.The article on the status of Heath Insurance is very informative. If you are not one of the 60% with group health insurance you should pray that you don't get a serious illness. The only thing you can do, is go find a new insurance policy. HOWEVER, the new company is likely to exclude it as well. Pretty well guaranteed, actually. And don't hope that all of a sudden, stuff will be covered in a year. People who use chiropractors, tend to use them a lot. And when something goes wrong, you need a lot of "adjustments" to make it right again. You went to a chiro. There is an "undiagnosed" preexisting condition - the stiffness. A PRIVATE policy is allowed to exclude whatever they want. A GROUP policy - like through YOUR employer, can only exclude stuff for 18 months. So. Get a job with group health coverage, and switch over. They want to exclude any existing problem. They are in it for the money not your benefit. Be glad you don't have a heart condition. It is pre excluding conditions Really sucks if you have a major illness the only way really around is if you join via an open enrollment at which time any pre existing conditions are generally accepted cause its what they do