9/22    Health Insurance question.  I just finished school, but I
        will be taking time off and traveling and don't want to
        start working until 6 months to a year from now.  So, I
        need temporary health insurance.  I found a policy I like.
        But I have one concern.  Suppose that during this temporary
        policy, I get a brain tumor, or something happens to me
        that is very serious, that requires more than one year of
        treatment.  When the temporary policy runs out, I won't be
        able to renew it (It's a maximum of 1 year), and then no
        other insurance company would take me because I'd have a
        pre-existing condition and then I'd be screwed.  Or, is
        there some law that requires insurance companies to take
        me (assuming that I've been continually insured, etc.).
        What should I do?  Any advise is appreciated.
        \_ you're young, you'll be fine.
        \_ If you get that sick while you're young, you might as
           well commit suicide.
        \_ By law they have to insure you. However, they don't have to
           charge you a low premium. This is why group coverage is such
           a nice thing. The risk is spread out over the group and so
           when you have a heart attack your premium doesn't rise much
           if at all. If you carry your own insurance then they won't drop
           you but they can raise your premium to something like
           $400/month or more. All this said, listen to the above guy and
           stop worrying. --dim
             \_ Sorry I'm beating a dead horse, but...
                http://www.tchra.org/newsletter/feb98/insure.htm
                "Highlights of the HIPAA regulations:
                   It limits exclusions for preexisting medical conditions, to
                   12 months (or 18 months for late enrollees), ... "
                What exactly does it mean preexisting medical condition?  Does
                this mean a condition you had before you got any insurance, or
                would this also refer to a condition that you got while under
                one insurance company, if you switch to another?
         \_ Also, according to http://www.tchra.org/newsletter/feb98/insure.htm
                "Under HIPAA, employees can use their current health care
                coverage as evidence to reduce or eliminate any preexisting
                medical condition exclusion period that might apply under a
                new employer's health plan."
            Am I correct in assuming that this also applies to individuals,
            regardless of employment?
        \_ I'm guessing you are talking about the CPIC Life policy?  You
           probably want to look into getting a regular policy.  I
           found the premiums similar, and it's worth the peace of mind.
           I have the name of a decent insurance agent, email me and I'll
           send you his name. You can ask him all your ?'s - cathyg