http://www.crisiscounseling.co...gHealthInsurance.htm


"Individual health insurers may deny you coverage based on your medical history or put you in such a high-risk category that it makes health coverage too expensive, according to Karen Pollitz, a Georgetown University researcher who co-authored a 2001 study on the individual health-insurance market for the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In her study, Pollitz found that roughly 90% of applicants in what's known as less-than-perfect health were unable to buy individual policies at standard rates, while 37% were rejected outright.

"It's very, very hard to get coverage now" in the individual health-care market, said Pollitz, who said underwriting standards have only tightened since her study.

Even counseling for grief or a sleeping or eating disorder can make someone ineligible, she said. So can being on medications for hay fever or acne, because insurers consider you a high user of medications, she said.

"Allegra will get you every time," said Pollitz. "They may deny you, they may increase your deductible, or give you a policy with no drug card."