Thanks for the information. I'm sure that with the economy the way it is, there are going to be many in the near future that will need this information.

I have been wondering what it is like for those of you who live in the States. I'm from Britain, where all our healthcare is free, but at the cost of speed. I may have to wait up to six months to get a rheumy appointment, but I don't have to pay for it when I get there. Do you find it hard to get insurance with a diagnosis of Lupus? It must be a big worry, just what you don't need!

Hi,
My family is Canadian and have the same health care system as the UK. Sadly two of my close relatived died because of the socialized medical program there. Took so much time to get diagnosis and proper tests by which time it was too late for them. Cancer, which they had both had, had taken over there body. Actually, one of them came to the US for treatment. Socialized medicine is fine if you are healthy, but scary in my opinion if you are sick. That being said, Insurance in the US has its issues also. Our system has been sucked dry. Most of us in the US understand why. If you do have an illness, you cant be denied, its against the law, but an insurance company can make your payments so high that you cannot afford them. Being that I have had cancer, lupus, plus all my other health probs I would NEVER be able to afford insurance if it wasnt for being able to get it through my husbands work. I am so thankful to have good insurance. It pains me to hear of ill people, deserving of health care, not able to get treated.

For anyone who does not have medical insurance, there is a yahoo group called LUPIES (Im pretty sure that is the name). In their files they have a slew of information for free lupus meds, treatment opportunities, etc. May be worth checking out. Lupus foundation is another good place.
Melissa

I'm sure there are pluses and minuses for both systems. But having lived in the US for ten years, and spent an absolute fortune on treatment, hospitals and drugs, and lived back here for 17 years with the same condition and spent not one penny for anything, I know which I'd choose for myself. I had my baby here, and there were complications and a long stay in the hospital after, and when I was ready to leave, there was no bill to settle, nothing. But you are right, Wildanimalover, sometimes we have to wait so long that it has a bad effect for the patient. Pity we can't combine the two systems, huh?

Mrs. Clooney,
I'm not sure what would happen if I lost my job. I've had people tell me they can't not insure me, I've had people tell me that they can, I've had people tell me they will but will charge so much I wouldn't be able to afford it. I think it goes state by state.
-Teisha

I'm unemployed so have to pay for health insurance. They accepted me despite having Lupus. I don't honestly know what I'd do without it or if I couldn't afford it. I see so many doctors, have so many tests and take so many medications ... I couldn't make it without insurance. Plus, all my doctors seem to work together very well. Another plus is I don't have to wait up to six months for an appointment. Thank goodness.

Then again, as redutchgirl said, 'I'm sure with the economy the way it is, there are gong to be many in the near future that will need this information.' I may be one of them.
peace and love ... Kyle Anne

Is health insurance very expensive? Does it cost more if you have a condition like lupus, because they would know that you are going to making a lot of claims. Do you have to fill out a lot of paperwork to get your claims paid? I forgot to mention that here in Britain we also have a private health care strata, so if you do not want to wait for an appointment, you can pay for one, or if you have insurance through your job, you get it for free, so I think we have the best of both worlds. All we need now are more doctors who actually speak English!

I live in the US and have insurance, but the main reason I have been given as to why it is taking so long to get a firm diagnosis is because and I quote 'a Lupus diagnosis can deem a person uninsureable'.
I am VERY happy to hear others have been able to get insurance with Lupus, but I wonder how many companies are willing to do that.
My insurance co. can not drop me because of it, but if my husband changes jobs or his employer changes insurance I could be excluded due to a pre existing condition.

HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION

Here some information about insurance and illness.

Can I buy health insurance if I have a serious illness such as AIDS or diabetes, or if I have a chronic condition such as high blood pressure or asthma?
Coverage cannot be denied under a group health insurance plan, if your employer offers one, nor can you be required to pay more for your health insurance based on your health status.

You may be subject to a preexisting condition exclusion period if you have just purchased a new, individual health plan. This is generally a time during which a health plan will not pay for covered care relating to any condition (physical or mental) for which advice, diagnosis, care or treatment was recommended or received within the six-month period immediately preceding enrolling in the health plan.

If you are HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) eligible, however, you must be offered at least some type of individual health insurance with no preexisting condition periods. To be HIPPA eligible, you must have had 19 months of continuous creditable health insurance coverage, used up any COBRA or state continuation coverage, and must not be eligible for Medicare or Medicaid.


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