Can I buy health insurance, use it, and then cancel it?

Question

I already have health insurance, United Health (thru employer), and I need to have a procedure done and it is hard to find a good doctor. I found one but they are out of network and UH won't cover the doctor fee.

Can I buy additional health insurance that covers out of network doctors and have the surgery I need and then cancel the extra insurance? How does that work? What insurance is the best for out of network coverage?

(There is no way for them to know I have anything pre existing, so that's not an issue.)

Answer 1

I think you should get a healthcare benefit plan. You have no obligation you can just cancel it. This company has a great plan for surgery and hospital stay, they will negotiate with the hospital to get you the lowest pay possible. The monthly cost starts at $13 per week. If you have any questions let me kknow. Good luck!

http://www.asihealthcare.com/website/268...

Answer 2

To answer your question directly, yes, you can. However, every insurance company that I work with considers a pre-existing condition as one that you have seeked medical treatment, consultation or advice, or that a prudent person would seek medical treatment, consultation or advice.

You may have a hard time proving to the insurance company that you are not a prudent person. If you can't, the policy will be rescinded and you'll have to at least pay them back for the procedures. You'll have a big red flag to the additional insurance company by having a procedure done and also by buying a policy while you are covered with UHC.

Don't buy a medical discount card. They are not regulated by the Department of Insurance nor do the people that sell them need to be licensed. This means you have little recourse when you have problems with the plan. If you are tempted by the low price and claims of “save up to 80%” be aware that very few doctors actually take these cards. It does you little good if you have to drive 4 hours to find a doctor that will accept the card. Montana couldn’t find any doctors in the whole state that actually took one card and only one dentist who was on probation for unlawful activities so they banned the sale of the card and fined the company. See this link http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/wes... for more information. Many other states are starting to ban these cards as well.

Answer 3

this is a baaaaaaaad idea. "need to have a procedure done" means that you 1) have seen someone before and/or 2) its pre-existing.. which, in turn means, you will be knowingly witholding information on your application. and, when you have it done, and it comes up as pre-existing, if they pay for it, you will get sued for the money paid out.. in addition, they can (and will) legally cancel your insurance policy and keep your dues! lame idea!

Answer 4

I think you described insurance fraud.  

You described a very suspicious pattern that would probably be investigated by the insurance company who would have access to all your current and past medical records.  They could also make a strong case that whatever you have is something a prudent person would have sought treatment for (even if you never mentioned it to your doctor), making it pre-existing.  Or it could be as simple as looking through your Y! history.

You would have committed a crime and still be responsible for the medical bills.  The good news is that if you have to do jail time, I hear they have great health insurance!

If what you have is really so rare that UHC doesn't have an in-network doctor to take care of you, you could appeal to have them pay an out-of-network physician.

edit: Read my third sentence.  You do not have to have a formal diagnosis for this to be considered pre-existing.    In short, you probably wouldn't get away with this.  UHC didn't get big for paying claims it didn't have to.

Answer 5

If you have a need for a medical procedure and lie on your application for the secondary insurance, when it is discovered they will cancel it as of the date of the application; you will then be responsible for the cost of the procedure.

Answer 6

Sure you can, but you'll have to disclose the pre-existing condition. If you don't, they'll not pay for it.  And, they won't cover the pre-existing condition.  

So bottom line - if you already know you need something taken care of, it's too late to buy a policy to cover that something.

Yes, there IS a way for them to know you have something pre-existing.  There are several ways - the number one way, is seeing a big bill for a surgery within the first six months of having the insurance.

Answer 7

Your much better bet is to find a doctor who's within your existing insurance plan provider network.

Answer 8

Its not likely that this will work in the way you want it to, for a variety of reasons...

1)  Your United Healthcare policy through your employer will still be primary.  (A group policy with an employer that you are currently employed at will nearly always take precedence over any other type of coverage, as dictated by standard coordination of benefits rules.)

2)  Because your United Healthcare policy will be primary, the doctor will still have to bill United Healthcare first.  United will process the claim according to whatever out of network benefits (if any) you might happen to have.

3)  Only after United processes the claim will the doctor be able to bill your secondary insurer.  This will likely not achieve the result you're looking for, as many secondary insurers follow the primary insurer's lead in this situation.  (Meaning that you shouldn't automatically assume that you'll get the full benefit under your secondary policy.  Its possible, but not a guarantee.)

4)  If you have an expensive procedure done under a new policy and then cancel it immediately, that will be a red flag to the insurer.  They will carefully scrutinize anything and everything to do with your policy to find grounds for cancellation.  (Even if it doesn't have anything to do with the doctor's fees.)

5)  Quite likely, the premiums you pay for this new policy coupled with the out of pocket expenses you'd still be liable for (deductibles, coinsurance, etc.) wouldn't make it worth the hassle of obtaining the new policy anyhow.

Answer 9

First of all, NEVER lie to the insurance. You can buy discount card and cancel anytime. No pre-existing condition required or waiting period.  Go to www.thehealthbenefits.net

Good Luck