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This Web site contains a compilation of more than a thousand consumer finance  columns written by Tony Novak from the 1980s through 2006, updated and reformatted for maximum usefulness today.  New material was added after 2010.

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Medical savings insurance leaves WV

originally posted: 11/22/2006  reposted: 2/18/2011 This post has not been recently reviewed or revised by the author and may be out of date. If you notice an error or are in doubt, please send a new question by email or ask for an update. Email asktony@tonynovak.com.

Q: I have been a customer of Medical Savings Insurance Company for about five years. Recently I received a letter saying the company was not renewing insurance for their clients in West Virginia. My son is on expensive growth hormone therapy and this non-renewal is quite a shock for us. Other insurance companies consider this a pre-existing condition and will not cover it. Any suggestions?

A: Please see the article "Finding Health Insurance to Cover a Pre-existing Medical Condition at http://FreedomBenefits.net/health-insurance-articles/Finding-health-insurance-to-cover-pre-exising-medical-conditions.htm and contact your state insurance department for the designated open enrollment plan. State insurance department contact information is listed in the article. Commercial insurance is not an option for you. Medical Savings Insurance Company is a reputable insurer that apparently could not operate successfully in West Virginia. When an insurance company pulls out of a state, everyone loses. Insurance companies do this when state laws do not allow the insurers to operate profitably. This is only one of the reasons that many consumer advocates, including myself, protest state imposed restrictions on health insurance plans and rates. Only under an open market conditions do consumers have access to a wide range of health plans and choices. In your case some additional family financial planning is warranted to prepare for the likely long term effects of your son's treatment.

Summary

More resources:

"Finding Health Insurance to Cover Pre-Existing Medical Conditions"

FreedomBenefits.net