Come to think of it, sex is genetic.

Thanks again Cave useful info. We are just going through the process of organising health insurance (through hubby's employer) for when we move to Denver later this year and we'd had to request specific info about this kind of thing to get answers about whether i could be fully insured. The health insurance industry in the USA scares the crap out of me!!

Aussie38, in the Denven area, Dr. Kathryn Hassell is a Hematologist/Oncologist in that area who has done research in clotting disorders:

http://www.uch.edu/doctor-profile/?id=150

When I was Secretary for the National Blood Clot Alliance (then known at NATT), she had worked with our organization during our very first patient education seminar held in Denver.

Another very good doctor in that area, though on the Pediatric side of things, is Dr. Marilyn Manco-Johnson. She has remained a long time member of the National Blood Clot Alliance Medical and Scientific Advisory Board.

A past colleague of the National Blood Clot Alliance (stoptheclot.org)(Lynn Levitt) lives in the Denver area. If you have any specific questions about the healthcare in that area, drop me a message through this site and I would be glad to ask her for her feedback. If I recall correctly, Kaiser Health Plan is one of the most prominate insurers in that State. A listing of all the Insurers in Colorado can be found at:

http://www.dora.state.co.us/insurance/consumer/2011%20docs/consIndividualCarrierListing061011.pdf

I think a lot of people misunderstand this law. There are things insurers CAN still do, including medically underwrite for disease and illness. For instance, if a person carries a BRCA1 mutation and has breast cancer, a health insurer can still medically underwrite for the actual breast cancer.

However, underwriting can differ depending on what kind of health insurance you purchase, ie an Individual Medical plan, a Small Employer Plan, a Large Employer plan, etc.

@Aussie Without going back and reading all the information I found on that site and others and depending on memory, not always a good idea (grin), individual states may 'have some say' in this.

As the article states:
" we acknowledge that the law is not perfect ".

From my experience with reading the progress of laws for health groups, those that were originally written up with all the language desired, by the time it went through all the committees and appropriations--- it got watered down.

And you can bet that the insurance lobbyists were right in there---- fighting tooth and nail to protect their financial interests!!

But it's a good start. When looking for an insurance carrier when you move to the States, if you have a choice in one (some employers don't give you one, or very few), see if you can read their fine print to see what their stance is.

But since you're young and if there are children involved even an ins. company that is 'murky' on the genetic thing---- might be a good choice for you---- a lot more happens to a family than DVTs. :)

States often enact their own laws based on federal laws and some state laws may be more generous to the consumer than a federal law. Also, insurance laws can vary depending on whether the plan is a non employer sponsored plan vs an employer sponsored plan.

Aussie, you can always contact an insurance agent in CO to give you the low down on types of plans available and how the state laws may or may not affect you.

Well, um, I'm in Colorado in the Denver area and I have fabulous insurance. Hopefully, your husband's company has you guys set up well. I think, ultimately, it depends a lot on what your husband's company is willing to pay for and where it leaves you after that. Less on the state and more on what the company is willing to shell out.

I've lived in CO most of my life and I've had both good and bad insurance coverage. Just depends.

I also think CO is a very consumer friendly state when it comes to their insurance regulations.

rmb and Cavey are right about each State having a say in it - "federal law does not preempt State law". At the the time of the signing of the Bill, Forty-one states have enacted laws to protect the public from genetic discrimination by insurance companies"

More info can be found at:

http://www.stoptheclot.org/News/article105.htm

For those which this may apply to, of course, GINA does not apply to those serving in the military (as mentioned in Cavey's link above). Thrombophilia associated with a clotting event can be a disqualifying factor for continued military service as is a reoccuring DVT/PE:

http://forum.clotconnect.org/discussion/23/military-physical-disability-evaluation-instruction

As with any medical condition in the military, a waiver request can be submitted but that does not necessarily mean it will be approved.

Thanks all for your comments we did leave an email trail between continents on this issue and have been assured in writing that the insurer doesn't have any clauses relating to pre-existing conditions for the employees of my husbands employer, we opted for the most expensive upgrade option too, so for now I think we are satisfied that we'll be covered as well as we can be.

Good news, Aussie. You did your homework, too. (grin)

I sincerely hope your insurance won't be Kaiser Permanente.

What if it is? How is putting that comment out there flying in the wind with no explanation helpful, Cave?

I figured that if Aussie wanted to know the reason she would PM me and IF Kaiser was going to be her insurer. Other than that----no harm, no foul.

I also doubt if anything I would write about Kaiser Permanente would be 'on topic' (pulmonary embolism).

However, if people DO want to know please respond to this thread and I'll collect my information and perhaps I'll post it. But, hey, no fair saying 'this isn't on topic', huh? (grin)

I wasn't asking for a laundry list of grievances you have with this insurer. I was trying to understand how a comment like this would help someone who appears to be getting coverage through her husband's employer and therefore may not have a choice in the insurer. Your right, if she has an issue she can contact you. I just found it strange. Others may not have.

@rmb----Just to be clear---- I, personally, have no grievances with Kaiser. I don't belong to them.

There are some pitfalls with Kaiser that, if known ahead, MIGHT help a person avoid them. Maybe.

I'd prefer to leave Aussie out of this conversation.

I'm sorry you found it strange.