Qualifying for Arizona Individual Health Plans-Weight Issues
Posted by Rachel Romero on Tue, Sep 21, 2010 @ 11:29 AM
One of the hardest thing about being a health insurance agent is to get that prospect - somebody who really wants or needs an Arizona individual health insurance plan - but because of the Body Mass Index - they do not qualify.
There is no secret - we are getting more and more overweight as a nation - 65% of all Americans are now overweight or obese. Obviously being overweight causes many health problems - diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease.
When I get that prospect that is 5'3" and weighs 278 pounds. Most of the individual health insurance companies will not cover a person this heavy. It is sad. And if you are 5'3" and weigh more than 181 pounds you will pay more premiums for health coverage.
If you are lucky enough to qualify for an Arizona Individual Health plan - even if you are overweight, then the major criticism that exists in the marketplace right now is there is not good coverage for weight loss treatment.
It is crazy - most insurers will cover diabetes or sleep apnea - but not the underlying problem - obesity - that causes the diabetes or sleep apnea.
Some plans specifically exclude bariatric surgery a growing number are following Medicare's example and covering it, after studies documented its safety and effectiveness. But such operations are suitable only for a small subset of patients who are classified as morbidly obese and for whom nothing else has worked.
Many people who are overweight are frustrated and feel powerless and feel like their weight has become unmanageable. They need help to lose weight. Right now many insurance companies feel that these heavy patients are choosing to be overweight. That is is a personal choice and all about willpower.
To me this viewpoint - sounds a lot like how people viewed alcoholism - that it was not a disease - that it was about willpower to stop drinking. Fortunately, public opinion and health policy has shifted with alcoholism. Many plans now cover chemical dependency and alcoholism.
Hopefully, in the future a good treatment options for the overweight and obese patients will be covered by Arizona Individual Health plans routinely.
