What’s Your Health Insurance Horror Story?

People do not want to go to the hospital when they get sick. I have known people to get in car accidents or injured, and refuse to go to the hospital. They would rather go home and try another remedy! If medical insurance is not taking our checks, the IRS sure is! Look at the rich stars....they don't have the problem with medical insurance or anything else...except having too much and no true happiness!

Medical insurance is so expensive it is like making a mortgage payment. My mother, was paying $600 a month, until just last year when she turned 65! Can you believe that? That is aweful. She said she paid it because she was taking a lot of medication for her allegies and the regular basic insurance plans did not cover it. Car insurance is cheaper than medical insurance! Something needs to be done. Why is so much money being funneled into the cities building stadiums, and monterail, high rise buildings and entertainment parks....what is this world coming to? The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. It is hard enough paying rent, and providing for the basic family necessities. God help single mothers or people with young children right now! You are darned if you do and darned if you don't. You can't make too much money or you do not qualify for anything......terrible........insurance costs, like I said before, is outrageous!

Medical co payments and medication is out of control! No wonder the death rate is increasing!

My health insurance company reversed charges from 2 years ago on medical bills that had already been paid. I got a $80,000 bill in the mail two years later. Imagine that! Why did they authorize charges when each time you go to the hospital they check all of that information? I feel it is really unfair....you should see my credit history from all these medical billing collection agencies.....

As Laura pointed out, pre-existing conditions not being covered. This means some of the very sickest (or those who have inherited or chronic illnesses) not being covered at all. Psychotherapy and "alternative" treatments—such as massage and accupuncture (often the only treatments which will help heal a problem or simply alleviate pain)—not being covered, or covered insufficiently. I particularly have a gripe about therapy not being properly covered. When will American policy makers come out of the Dark Ages and recognize that our mental health is as important as our physical health?

Eight years ago, after moving to Arizona with my fiance for grad school, I was "blackballed" from all insurance companies. I went an entire year without insurance, even with the AZ insurance commissioner fighting for me. Why? All because I told my dermatologist (yes dermatologist) that my sister has lupus. This was put in her records and someone, somewhere interpreted that as if I had lupus (even though a dermatologist can't diagnose it!). The dermatologist even wrote to Kaiser and Blue Cross Blue Shield saying I don't have a pre-existing condition and they had no right going through her private consult notes. I went a year without insurance until I was married and could get on my husband's plan. Word of advice: watch what you say in private consultations and ask that nothing be written down by doctors that can be used against you--especially if you are a freelancer or consultant or own your own company.

I don't have any personal health insurance horror stories (but don't get me started on the dentist) but having worked in a cancer clinic, I had patients ordering their chemo from Canada, where it was much cheaper, husbands writing letters to senators to try and get their wives experimental treatment covered, and patients paying out of pocket for thousand dollar therapies. With an aging and ailing population, something big needs to change or things are bound to get worse. I think the Democrats have the right approach with a public health care system. I know we have a capitalist society, but maybe our health (and sickness) isn't something that should be capitalized on.

Can anyone say $1500 deductible? I'm sure I don't need to explain any further. Let's just say that a few vials taken at the gyno add up, a lot, and in the end, I was stuck footing the bill.
Awful!