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Health Insurance
Health insurance protects against financial
losses that occur as a result of injury or sickness. It spreads the
risk and costs associated with one person becoming sick or getting
injured to a large number of people who have purchased health
insurance policies.
The Foundation has advocated before Congress in
support of a comprehensive Medicare prescription drug benefit for
senior Americans living with R-CIS. Additionally, it is working in
Washington, DC and in state capitols across the country to ensure that
all health plans provide comprehensive R-CIS benefits as part of a
basic benefits package. Third, the Foundation continues to advocate
for health insurance reforms like "community rating" that
will make health insurance affordable for Americans living with R-CIS.
Fourth, the Foundation is working with several members of Congress to
dramatically improve the public health system in the United States.
Life Insurance
Once a person is diagnosed with R-CIS, life
insurance policies sold within the United States can become
unaffordable or unavailable. This is because life insurance policies
are allowed by state and federal law to "rate" or charge a
premium based upon an applicant's health status. In addition, a plan
can choose to not provide a policy based upon an applicant's health
status.
How to overcome life
insurance issues
First, if a person wants to purchase a life
insurance policy, the best option is to search for life insurance sold
under the laws of another country (e.g., Canada, European Union). Most
life insurance salespeople with large firms can help find
international underwriters who will sell this type of policy in the
United States. Assuming that a person with R-CIS can find a life
insurance policy of this type, such policies are frequently expensive.
Are life insurance
obstacles facing people affected by R-CIS likely to be overcome soon?
Sadly, the answer is no. Very little is
underway throughout federal and state legislatures in the United
States to reform the life insurance marketplace. Further complicating
matters are the protections available to the life insurance industry
afforded under a variety of laws including the American with
Disabilities Act. These laws typically exempt life insurance policies
from complying with anti-discrimination laws with regard to policies
sold.
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