Health insurers are more than willing to pay for medical care when you’re diagnosed but what about paying for preventative care so your have a fair chance of preventing disease? Isn’t it cheaper in the long run to care for people before they get sick versus paying for health care after the fact?
emmaleig said on Thursday, November 5, 2009, 18:53
Good question that would have the world longest answer if I explained it all. Basically what happens is that insurance companies would rather play the “let see if the worst happens” game then to take the steps to prevent illness. For example, most HMOs will not pay for diabetic testing supplies or the preventative foot care, but yet will pay 100% for the amputation that will ensue from not taking cre of oneshealth. Now not all HMOs are like this, but many are. One very prominent HMO in the United States has just stopped covering prenatal care for pregnant people… but yet will pay 100 percent for the care needed if the infant is born ill and needs to spend 30 days in the NICU.
One said on Thursday, November 5, 2009, 19:49
Depends on the health plan. Many HMOs are willing to pay for physicals, preventative immunizations and other preventative medical treatment.