1. Health

I Might Be Laid Off Soon. Should I See My Doctor Before I Lose My Insurance?

From , former About.com Guide

Updated April 29, 2009

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Question: I Might Be Laid Off Soon. Should I See My Doctor Before I Lose My Insurance?
Answer:

Under most circumstances, I would advise people to seek medical attention if they have any concerns about their health. However, if you anticipate losing your health insurance soon, you may want to pause and think about it before seeing your doctor.

Of course, if you are ill or have immediate concerns about your health that must be addressed, by all means make an appointment. However, if you are just trying to get the most out of your insurance plan before it expires, remember this: any condition that your healthcare provider diagnoses or treats could potentially be used to deny you health coverage later. Any such condition could also be treated as a pre-existing condition that may be excluded from coverage if you are not able to remain continuously covered.

So be sure to take care of your immediate health needs, but you may want to put off seeking unnecessary care or diagnostic testing until your insurance situation is more stable.

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