Did I Handle this Med Supp Issue the Wrong Way?

[wehotex]

Did you pre-screen her (BEFORE submitting the app) by going over the medical questions and Rx histories? Based on your post it seems you did not review the questions and med's but just asked "Are you healthy" and left it at that.

LOL. No, that's not the way that I did it. The meds were the FIRST things that I checked, since I'm kind of used to that anyway. She takes only Synthroid (thyroid) and citalopram (anxiety) and briefly took metformin, but doesn't take it anymore. Next, I asked her to tell me what types of docs and healthcare professionals that she has been seeing. This narrowed down the types of conditions that could help her with the knockout questions. She never mentioned a sleep study during our FTF meeting, only in the phone interview. Then, she completed the health questions herself.

 

[vic120]

A sleep study without results would be a decline with most. ie pending tests

When I went for my sleep study I had results the next day, Can she still be waiting for results?

 

[wehotex]

Are u sure? Thats not a medical professional!

I disagree. A medical professional had to recommend it, didn't they? What were her symptoms? Shortness of breath, Trouble with sleeping? Afterwards, a qualified respiratory doc would have to analyze the results of the study.

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When I went for my sleep study I had results the next day, Can she still be waiting for results?

Unprofessional place?

 

[craig_ritter]

Regarding the "double app'ing" question, even though I understand you're would have been doing this for the benefit of the client and you'd have her cancel one or the other, technically, it's illegal to sell more than one med supp policy. So, if you were "caught" doing this somehow, you could get fined or worse (federal regs).

Only other options I can think of would be the Cigna "non-preferred" option or maybe trying one of the Med Supp companies that uses Equitable's telephonic underwriting (where you can get an underwriting decision while on the phone.)

Good luck!

 

[vic120]

I disagree. A medical professional had to recommend it, didn't they? What were her symptoms? Shortness of breath, Trouble with sleeping? Afterwards, a qualified respiratory doc would have to analyze the results of the study.

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Unprofessional place?

Sleep study is not to determine if there is a lung disorder, Only if there is breathing issues during sleep, This is caused by different reasons. I can remember all the specifics but it is not that kind of thing. It has to do with some flap in the throat or whatever, They actually have corrective surgeries available.

If there is lung disorder it would be different test's and there would be breathing issues during waking hours

Sleep machines do not purify are like with someone who needs oxygen, It is solely to add pressure and open airways

 

[wehotex]

Regarding the "double app'ing" question, even though I understand you're would have been doing this for the benefit of the client and you'd have her cancel one or the other, technically, it's illegal to sell more than one med supp policy. So, if you were "caught" doing this somehow, you could get fined or worse (federal regs).

Only other options I can think of would be the Cigna "non-preferred" option or maybe trying one of the Med Supp companies that uses Equitable's telephonic underwriting (where you can get an underwriting decision while on the phone.)

Good luck!

Craig,
Thanks for letting me know of the "double apping". I would not have known that.

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A sleep study without results would be a decline with most. ie pending tests

Jimmy,

You were right on the money!! The first Cust Service rep would not give me the reason for the decline, but the second one did. I was told that Underwriting would RECONSIDER once they received the results from the Sleep Study.

 

[JimmyUt]

Craig,
Thanks for letting me know of the "double apping". I would not have known that.

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Jimmy,

You were right on the money!! The first Cust Service rep would not give me the reason for the decline, but the second one did. I was told that Underwriting would RECONSIDER once they received the results from the Sleep Study.

I am very clear about that question mainly because of final expense. The last thing I ever wanted was a policy to get rescinded because they had a pending surgery and died within 2 years.

 

[somarco]

I don't recall ever seeing a question on a Medigap app about apnea. FE underwriting is not the same as health insurance (Medigap) and vice versa.

 

[JimmyUt]

I don't recall ever seeing a question on a Medigap app about apnea. FE underwriting is not the same as health insurance (Medigap) and vice versa.

I am aware, but pending tests or surgeries are the same with both. At least from what I have seen between medigap and fe

 

[WCMason]

I would try to get the sleep study results ASAP and see if you can reverse the decline. A couple of weeks ago I had someone declined by Continental Life because they did not know the results of their most recent PSA blood test. The results were good, but the applicant didn't know the number. The applicant got the latest report, I faxed it to underwriting, and the decline was reversed the next day.

Barring that, I would have the client contact the Part D carrier and cancel the PDP enrollment prior to its taking effect. Doing that should prevent the MAPD plan from being canceled. Then take another shot at this in October instead of February.

Also, and this is very important: do not take a PDP enrollment that will cancel an MAPD until after the med sup is approved in a situation like this.