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While rape itself is not a pre-existing condition, IF a rape victim seeks medical care and is prescribed anti-AIDS medications, if she gets an STD from the rape, or if she seeks psychological counseling for post traumatic stress, she is likely to have existing health insurance coverage canceled.
When she shops around for replacement insurance, she is likely to be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. Now it seems that just being prescribed a medication to prevent a condition makes that condition "pre-existing."
One woman was told that if she remains AIDS free for three years, they will reconsider her application for health insurance.
The issue is huge because these women are victims. When a violent crime against a woman is reported to the police, most states take that woman to a hospital or medical clinic to prove that a rape occurred, and to check for other injuries. Women are offered anti-AIDS medications pretty routinely as part of this exam as well as a pregnancy test.
Does the choice for a rape victim now become:
1. Don't report the incident, in which case no charges can be filed, and the prepetrator will walk away from potential prosecution?
2. Refuse any medical assistance, to prevent AIDS or to deal with psychological damage?
Should any victim of any type of violence have to make choices that are not in their own best interests in order to be eligible for health insurance?
I have to wonder how the health insurance companies have been able to get away with such blatant discrimination for so long.
It seems that the closer we are getting to hopefully getting a public option for health insurance, the more we are learning about what has been going on behind the scenes.
Even if we don't get the public option, we have to hope that the legislation that does pass will offer much better protection to all of us, and slap some strong regulations on the health insurance industry.
Other stories you might like to read include:
Public health insurance is still an open topic
Baby denied health insurance for being too fat
Liberals want health insurance reform to lean left
Resources:
Huffington Post
Written by Shelby Bateson
Posted October 25th, 2009 by Shelby Bateson
