Are there any common health problems that could cause someone to be rejected completely?
A few insurance companies now refuse to issue insurance policies to applicants with Diabetes. I have “inherited” type-2 diabetes, myself, and have coverage through one of the companies that now refuses to issue a policy to diabetics. They explained that this change in policy came about because of too many problems with diabetics who didn’t understand what the the diabetes exclusion entailed when they went into the hospital for treatment. I checked with another health insurer and they told me that they had had the same problem also. Frankly, I didn’t understand how broad the exclusion was either. I thought that I was covered for strokes and heart disease, at least.
After researching the matter, I now understand why insurance companies are having this problem. Diabetes is a disease of the blood. Everywhere the blood flows is a candidate for exclusion from coverage for treatment.
People with diabetes are at greater risk for problems that involve damage to small blood vessels and nerves due to high levels of glucose in the blood. They are also at a greater risk of developing hardening of large arteries (atherosclerosis) that can result in a heart attack, stroke, and poor blood flow to the legs. Damage to small blood vessels can affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Damage to eyes, specifically the retina, is called diabetic retinopathy and is the leading cause of blindness. Damage to the kidneys can lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis and is called diabetic nephropathy. Damage to the nerves that supply the legs and arms and gastrointestinal tract is called neuropathy. Some people with diabetes that develop peripheral neuropathy (damage to the nerves in the legs) and have poor blood flow to the legs will eventually need an amputation. Impotence and depression can also result from diabetes. (Now, I am depressed).
The good news for type 2 diabetics is that these problems can be avoided by proper diet and exercise. But, many sufferers lack the proper determination and commitment to do that. And there is no way for insurance companies to know which of us have it and which of us don’t, without regular testing and follow up. To try to distinguish on a regular basis between those that do and those that don’t would require constant monitoring by the insurance company. Which would cost them money for use of time and resources. That cost would then be passed to policy holders in terms of higher premiums.
Instead, insurance companies opt for the easy way out either by accepting the applicant’s money and excluding the condition, or, by rejecting the applicant altogether and thus avoiding conflict in the future.
