I started to post this as a comment in NBBooker's diary about rescission, but it grew and grew. I guess I needed to rant. Because I'm not the ranting type, I included an interesting, inspiring and uplifting p.s. at the end for presidential press conference junkies.
I have a policy from Assurant. I am self-employed and have bought a policy from them for years, because I wanted to be a responsible adult, but I never went to a doctor, never smoked or drank, regular exercise, yoga, etc.
In 2004 I was diagnosed with cancer, and Assurant hired an outside firm to investigate me. I guess outsourcing death by spreadsheet is cost-effective, who knew? They examined every line on my application to try to find some contradiction or misinformation. While I was trying to make decisions about whether to try to keep working and living alone, what type of chemo to undergo, reconstructive surgery or not, etc, I would get letters saying things like,
"Please list any and all prescription medications you have obtained over the last ten years. Include the name and address of the pharmacy where each was filled.....Failure to provide complete information will result in your insurance being cancelled."
Two things saved me--I actually had only been to a doctor once or twice before my diagnosis, and I consulted an attorney who was so aghast he wrote them a letter and refused to take payment from me.
For a while, Assurant inexplicably kept sending me paperwork with DECEASED next to my name. When I called them they said to sign it anyway, that it wouldn't make any difference in my coverage. I refused, saying it seemed metaphysically unwise to sign my name to "Deceased" when we were fighting so hard to try to make sure I did not in fact cease.
Then, I kid you not, they responded with a letter purporting to clarify some definitions. One of them reads, verbatim:
LOSS OF LIFE: You die.
I saved most of this stuff. Assurant Health turned my cancer diagnosis into a metaphysical cartoon. I thought they must be kidding at times. Now, four years later, I am cancer-free (yippee!) but they settled for raising my rates through the roof, so all I do is work and send everything I earn immediately to the people who treated me this way, do not pass go, do not collect $200, do not save for retirement, don't dare take a vacation or see a movie.
I have actual hate feelings for Assurant Health. I shudder to think what almost happened to me, and feel so much worry over those who are not quite as fortunate in their dealings with this company. If a couple of small things had gone differently I would be facing cancer treatment uninsured.
Okay here's the p.s. I recently went to Georgetown Hospital in DC for the results of my latest scans (there is no limbo like waiting for scan results) and was once again declared NED (No evidence of disease) HA! Take that! Cancer schmancer! I decided to treat myself by walking to 2 Amy's Pizza, the best pizza in DC (HA! I can walk two miles in 90 degree heat! I'm better!) I ordered an entire plain mozzerella and basil pizza and sangria. (I can eat anything I want without fear of puking!) A couple walked in and sat at the table next to me (it's a close-pack restaurant--think hexagonal. think beehive). I had the impression that the woman was ancient, but she moved like a younger person and was packing the meat-covered pizza away. She seemed familiar, so I finally looked her right in the face and it was Helen Thomas! HA! I ate pizza next to Helen Thomas! Monday was a good day.