Well since BCBS is not going to pay for any of my transgender care I have to ask myself why keep paying them.  It's like paying someone to rob you.  I could take that money and put it in a savings account and use it to pay for meds and doctor visits since it's coming out of my pocket anyway. Doesn't that make sense? 

But keep in mind that you could have other health issues that may crop up from time to time that it would pay for. So you have to decide if canceling is really worth it in the long haul. There are a lot of things concerning our health that is not trans related.

doesnt insurance pay if the doctor puts hormone imbalance for the reason? technically it is hormone imbalance so that in itself makes it become medically necessary

You have tunnel vision Amy. What if you are in a car wreck or have to have an appendix or gall bladder removed? You need to keep your insurance sweetie. If you cancel you will have a heck of a time getting it in the future. That is why when employers change insurance policies they have to give you a letter stating you were previously insured so the next one they find will pick you up easier. As a Paramedic I saw people every day on my unit who had cancelled for some reason or another and then been injured. BCBS is a great company, you would be not too wise to cancel them. 

Quote from: Jaime R D aka big head horsey-face on May 25, 2014, 02:11:18 PM
But keep in mind that you could have other health issues that may crop up from time to time that it would pay for. So you have to decide if canceling is really worth it in the long haul. There are a lot of things concerning our health that is not trans related.

Yeah it could definately be risky but so far the only problems I've had have been very minor.

Quote from: Brianna Umiko Liliana on May 25, 2014, 02:15:35 PM
doesnt insurance pay if the doctor puts hormone imbalance for the reason? technically it is hormone imbalance so that in itself makes it become medically necessary

I don't know but I'd say not likely.

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on May 25, 2014, 02:22:58 PM
You have tunnel vision Amy. What if you are in a car wreck or have to have an appendix or gall bladder removed? You need to keep your insurance sweetie. If you cancel you will have a heck of a time getting it in the future. That is why when employers change insurance policies they have to give you a letter stating you were previously insured so the next one they find will pick you up easier. As a Paramedic I saw people every day on my unit who had cancelled for some reason or another and then been injured. BCBS is a great company, you would be not too wise to cancel them. 

Yeah it's just something I'm thinking about but I probably won't.

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here due to my severe distrust towards American insurance companies. I haven't had health insurance in 7 years.

I usually pay $120 for a visit to urgent care once a year for common cold infections.

Do I worry about it? No, not really ever. Yes I could get in a terrible accident, but I am still young healthy as far as I know so I'm not worried about disease. Major accidents are the only one I could possibly worry about, but I have had several friends who have the same general distrust (and lack of insurance thereof) and HAVE gotten in accidents. They still get treated, and they end up paying nothing in the end. It's remarkable if you ask me.

I know I may get flamed for saying this, but I think the way insurance companies get off is instilling fear in people- making them think they need to pay thousands of dollars for "security". When, in fact, everyone has the same amount of security when in dire need of emergency healthcare.

Jessica, you probably have a very different viewpoint on this being that you used to deal with emergencies and accidents all the time? Hopefully what I just said isn't too upsetting

Quote from: Jennygirl on May 25, 2014, 05:01:38 PM
Jessica, you probably have a very different viewpoint on this being that you used to deal with emergencies and accidents all the time? Hopefully what I just said isn't too upsetting

After getting slammed in a topic earlier (which no one reported), it just shows I have outlived any usefulness I have tried to have here. Maybe it is time I moved on. I am not upset with you Jenny, just realizing I am obsolete and outdated. I guess it's just a brave new world that I don't understand anymore.

Before deductibles of $6000+, Insurance was worth it, but with that deductible plus premiums, not worth it for the most part.

Are transgender issues still considered experimental in the US and the reason insurance won't cover it?

or cosmetic morelike.

I had $150k in hospital bills a couple of years back.  I will never go without insurance.

they are starting to calm down on that a little but they still consider ffs and vfs cosmetic

even SRS though, which makes no sense. They are debating the wording on that for medicare/medicaid. If that changes, insurance companies will likely follow suit shortly after.

Marci Bowers apparently will take my insurance policy.

Personally, I hated bluecross/blueshield when I used them.  They found a way to deny almost all of my medical bills and I'm still paying off 2 months of "coverage" with them.  In any case, having insurance is very important.  One bill that you didn't expect could end your life.  Hell, medical bills are one of the biggest contributors to poverty in this country, so they aren't odds worth playing.  It's fine to consider getting a different policy, but I would recommend finding an alternative rather than getting rid of medical completely.

I can agree with having it, I'm more upset that I can't get insurance until next year unless I'm willing to pay $350/month plus have a deductible of $6350. I can get emergency help to cover if I need to, but I can't afford the insurance.

Quote from: LordKAT on May 25, 2014, 06:15:43 PM
I can agree with having it, I'm more upset that I can't get insurance until next year unless I'm willing to pay $350/month plus have a deductible of $6350. I can get emergency help to cover if I need to, but I can't afford the insurance.

That's an insane deductible, but sadly that's becoming standard as there are little safeguards to prevent increased premiums and deductibles. In any case, I can see why you are reluctant to take that policy.  That really sucks, sorry you are going through this. 

Unfortunately, it is a common deductible with the Unaffordable care act in place.