Getting affordable health insurance?

Getting rid of my guaranteed issue health insurance?

• A questio for health insurance gurus: I was not offered health insurance when I retired from my job (to take care of ill father) because I was not 55. When COBRA ran out, I had to get guaranteed issue because of 3 pre-existing conditions: weight, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. I have tackled two of the three, and now just have the high blood pressure (which every single person in my family has, aunts to cousins). In talking to BC/BS about raising my deductable, they say I can't because I have guaranteed issue--thus they can raise my premiums every year for how ever much they want to. Rep said I could lower my premium by getting single health insurance. But now I am wondering if I do that and come down with something like diabetes (which also runs in my family), can they kick me out?

• Answer:

  Even if you don't have a guaranteed issue policy, the health insurance company can STILL raise the rates for the entire group. Under Obamacare, the estimates for pricing increases are between 20 and 30% per year, indefinately. But once you have an individual health insurance policy, they cannot kick you out for claims. They can only kick you out if you don't pay the premium, or they go out of business, or they find out you lied on your application.