I can has private health despite teenage suicide attempt?

June 22, 2009 9:34 AM

Will a long-long-ago suicide attempt on my hospital record impact negatively on an attempt to sign up for a private health fund in Australia/on the cost of health fund membership?

We're talking over 10 years ago. I was in my late teens. It ain't gonna happen again - I've run to a few doctors crying 'depression' over the years but have since figured out on my own the problem is effectively hormonal, and am on top of it - but will they believe that I'm not a bad risk because of this one event years ago?

They asked me about previous hospital stays on the phone when enquiring about costs of plans, but I forgot, then remembered and didn't want to mention it; it just feels like another lifetime ago. If I don't report something on signing up, could there be potential negative ramifications down the track?

Just what can they gain access to, anyway, if they wanted to contest a claim I made? This stuff? Records from my GP? Would they try? If I was never to have a single 'nother mental health hiccup in my life, could omitting this from an application nonetheless cause me problems when/if claiming for something entirely unrelated?

Either way - because I've never had private health and I'm just wondering - am I correct in surmising that hedging like this is WHY they ask when my last hospital stay was? Or is there some other reason?

Thanks in advance!

posted by anonymous to health & fitness (3 comments total)

Well, there was just a post in the blue about rescission of private insurance for people who forgot to mention things as minor as acne treatment. And usually it comes on the heals of being diagnosed with something major - it's when the insurance companies might be on the line for some costly treatment that they start looking deeper at your medical history. So, whatever you do, don't omit it!

I don't know how it will effect your rates though. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that part.
posted by [insert clever name here] at 10:00 AM on June 22

As someone who has a similar record (also in Australia), I would say no. They may want to exclude coverage for depression (or some other condition) if you have been treated for it in the last x years, but that will have nothing to do with the hospital stay.

Please do not be scared by US insurance company stories. The Australian system is completely different and US anecdotes are not at all relevant to the Australian experience.

could omitting this from an application nonetheless cause me problems when/if claiming for something entirely unrelated?

AFAIK, no. But don't omit it, just be honest. There's no reason to think that they won't cover you, you just may have depression/mental health issues excluded if you have had more recent treatment.
posted by different at 10:04 AM on June 22

I'm Australian, and have private health insurance. Seconding that it's not the US. You won't be uninsurable because you had mental health issues 10 years ago.

What is more likely (although only your insurer can tell you for definite) is that you disclose your long ago hospital visit, sign up, and are not covered for depression/mental health issues for 12 months. You'll likely be covered for everything else. And after 12 months, you *will* be covered for mental health.

As far as hiding it goes, why would you? You don't have any mental health issues now, if I've read your post correctly, so it should'nt be a problem to go without mental health coverage for 12 months. Happily here, even if you *did* have mental health issues in that time, it's not the bank-breaking exercise it might be in the US. There are psychologists and psychiatrists who bulk bill, which is still available to you even if you are privately insured.

I'd say be upfront, ask them how it will affect your coverage, and if you don't like the answer, do some policy/provider shopping. You could try iSelect, or have a look at the Gubbinment's insurance policy comparison tool.

And yes, an insurer can access your Medicare records when you make a claim. You have to sign a release form for them to do this. However, no release form, no claim. So yes, they may find out about your GP visits and hospital stay if they ask for records that go back far enough. That's in my personal experience. For clearer guidelines about what insurers can/can't ask can/can't take into consideration, you might consider contacting the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman.
posted by t0astie at 8:08 PM on June 22