I have Blue Shield insurance and assume that if I get sick, like if I ever were to get HIV/AIDS or cancer that it would cover me, but how do I find out for sure what is and is not covered? My paperwork only lists the big picture stuff like how much an office visit costs, how much my co-pay for prescriptions are and the such but it doesn't get into the details of medical conditions. Anyone know
~~Yes it would cover you for all medically approved treatments. It's imperative you learn and understand your policy in case God forbid you ever experience any serious disease. Every policy is different, and private policies can really hurt you.
Most policies have maximum benefits allowances. Then there is also a matter of having an annual limitation on pharmaceutical coverage, plus annual deductibles. Then if it is a private policy, insurance, companies can suddenly cancel the current policy and then force you into another policy with mostly unaffordable premiums, etc. Insurance companies have all the power we have none.
State laws can vary on what is and is not allowed and that makes a difference. It is honestly a complete failure. My Uncle had great insurance, but didn't find out until he was diagnosed with liver cancer how limited the prescription drugs coverage was. He passed away and my Aunt is trying to still deal with the debt they incurred from his terrible disease.
If you do not completely understand your particular policy call a rep (toll free number on the back of your card), and have a list of every question, and make them answer them all to your satisfaction. Truth is though, the better the coverage the more unaffordable the monthly premium.
Hope and pray we get the public option, otherwise we are all the the mercy of these corporate giants. Nothing worse than watching someone suffering in horrific pain, just because they could not afford the Meds to make it a little more tolerable, while they or their family is fighting their insurance company, while that person is slowly dying. It's such a barbaric system we have in the USA, you would think we lived in a third world country!
There all ALL KINDS of insurance policies out there - Blue Shield probably has several hundred different KINDS.
You have to look at the LIMIT OF COVERAGE. Normally, you'll see a $1,000,000 lifetime maximum. Some cheaper policies have a $10,000 maximum per calendar year.
It's really NOT done by "brand name" - it really matters which coverages you selected.