Medical Insurance qu
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=15885
Printed Date: 09 October 2025 at 3:36am
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Topic: Medical Insurance qu
Posted By: busymum
Subject: Medical Insurance qu
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 4:53pm
So as you probably know, I'm in the running for an endometriosis diagnosis and removal. One thing that has come up is that my grandmother and her four daughters (one is my mum) all believe they are gluten intolerant and all have not had tests. From what I've heard of endo, I'm guessing they probably all had/have endo themselves as well  I already think my sister does, as she has terrible pains and is (sofar unexplained) apparently infertile to some degree.
So with all that background we are looking at whether we should get med insurance for our daughters. Is it worth it? How much does it cost? Will I have to disclose the possible endo family link or since no one has yet been diagnosed (including me) can I basically ignore it for the purposes of form-filling? I've never had medical insurance, so all opinions etc valued  -------------  |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 5:31pm
| I think it's worth it, we already insured Daniel. Because DH's parents insured him very early he was able to have eye surgery that he needed and anything down the track he needs for his eye will be covered as it didn't show up immediately. |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 5:33pm
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i would be careful..they can track down whether you had a pre existing condition before you signed on(you may be lucky but they may consider you having had issues before I'm not sure) .. I'm assuming they will take Ethan..as we signed him on 3 weeks after he was born and he now has this allergy..i assume it will all be fine..
Mum has paid mine for years and refuses to let me know...(apron strong cutting) and for us it is worth it.....i would certainly have it for my kids.. but its really a personal thing..if they are healthy and stay that way you are spending a lot of money..but if something comes up it will be well worth it..? ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 7:25pm
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Most insurance companies will cover congenital conditions in children as long as the child is added within 3 mths of birth. This covers all pre-existing conditions.
If you were applying for you Teresa you'd need to disclose the possible endo, if it's just for the girls then you don't need to worry coz you don't have a concrete diagnosis yet so there is currently no confirmed family history. Mum and Dad pay ours too, we have Southern Cross Ultracare 100 and it's $177 per month for me and the kids, altho I only have to pay for Maya and Sienna as third and subsequent children are free. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 8:24pm
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I get medical insurance thru work - well worth it as Josh has had 3 op within the year all covered. They have also covered our pre exisiting conditions... anyway enough about that - YOU will have to disclose the Endo in the questions they ask as if something happens and you omitted that they have a clause to not pay it. ------------- Ann 
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 8:45pm
Yea just to clarify, I know it's far too late to get med ins for me (for endo) because my symptoms have already surfaced. But we're just looking at ins for the girls. ------------- |
maya wrote:Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 8:54pm
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Then nope, no obligation to disclose as the family history is currently only speculation. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 8:58pm
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I would definitely get medical insurance for your kids. Shop around and see what's available because you may be able to find a plan tailored to your needs. If you have a financial adviser I'd talk to them about the policies available and what they cover.
Many plans can cover pre-existing conditions if you are willing to pay a bit extra (this is called a loading) or they will exclude certain conditions - loadings and exclusions can be reviewed. I'm ot sure how extensive underwriting is for young children but pm me if you want me to find out and get a quote and some info for you (you may have guessed - I work for an insurance company) You definitely need to disclose any pre-existing conditions (if they are only suspected then write this down on the application). If you don't disclose and you're found out the company can avoid your policy (i.e. cancel it without paying your claim) and this can affect your future insurability (and the cost of policies in the future). -------------  
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 9:02pm
The insurance company will look at your medical history when assessing the girls. i.e. if you've ever applied for life insurance for eg you'll notice that they ask questions about your parents and extended family. This is because your families medical history give a good indication of any potential future medical problem you may have. -------------
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 9:05pm
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So do you think I need to specify that there may be endo in the family when I apply for ins for my girls? ------------- |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 9:16pm
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It doesn't hurt to tell them. You're going to have to disclose your own personal medical details so you could either wait until you have a diagnosis or write down that you are having tests for endo but at this stage nothing is confirmed. Underwriters prefer to have too much information as it makes it easier and quicker at claim time.
I once went to a seminar run by the insurance and saving ombudsman who said a lot of their complaints relate to policies being avoided and a lot of the time the customers genuinely didn't think it was important but the companies did and the ISO agreed. What the ombudsman said was that it's best to disclose everything whether you think it's important or not. If you do go ahead and they give you an offer of terms (which means that the insurance is accepted but with conditions - i.e. loadings or exclusions) you can ask for a review of terms once your diagnosis is in - then again they may not underwrite the girls at all even though you have suspected endo, I'll ask an underwriter tomorrow for you. -------------
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Posted By: AnnC
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 9:26pm
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They do ask for family medical history. ------------- Ann
Also Mum to Josh (15) and Brooke (10) |
Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 01 April 2008 at 9:27pm
I don't think it would matter even if you did. Most endo issues start when you menstrate - all of your girls are a fair way off (hopefully!) and most companies have a stand down period of 3 years for pre-existing so I would imagine all 3 would be fine. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 April 2008 at 8:14pm
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Do insurance companies actually do policies for minors? Or are they all done via a parent? If So I might be best to get DH to be the parent that owns the policy and include the girls, that way there is no confusion when they exclude endo from my policy (if I get one) that it would still cover endo for my girls.... thoughts? ------------- |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 11 April 2008 at 9:06pm
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You could check with a company that specialises in health insurance (like southern cross). Does SC have anything on its website?
I know you can take out life insurance on minors but they can't own the policy until they're over 18. -------------
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 April 2008 at 9:10pm
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I'm glad this has come back up coz I had a look at my policy and even thou my mum was diagnosed with endo and had a hystorectomy at 30 odd I am still covered for all that sort of stuff. Both sides of my family have some pretty random things (MS and diabetes) and i'm still covered for everything. I'm with southern x too. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |