Many (most?) of the non-disclosed p-x conditions were oversight or failure to understand the definition of p-x. Assurant was notorious for denying due to p-x and resulted in a fair amount of litigation.
Gaskill, a 63-year-old retiree, says she began buying policies from Assurant Health in 2005. After a six-month policy expired, she signed up for a new one with Assurant.
Her new policy went into effect on Jan. 24, 2006, according to an Oct. 10 letter from Assurant Health to the Connecticut Insurance Department. Gaskill says she bought the six-month policies instead of more traditional insurance because they were what she could afford.
In March, she went to the doctor for a small lump under her ear. It had been there awhile, but it did not hurt or bother her so she did not make an appointment until it seemed a bit larger than before.
The doctor asked how long she had the lump.
"I said 'maybe a year,' " says Gaskill, who has since moved to St. Petersburg, Fla. "I never thought that would be held against me."
The lump turned out to be cancer. After checking her medical records, Assurant revoked her policy, leaving her with $30,000 in surgical bills.
In its letter to the insurance department, Assurant said it canceled the policy because "an ordinarily prudent person would seek diagnosis or treatment when a lump initially presents itself." Therefore, the lump was considered "pre-existing" and not covered under Gaskill's current six-month policy.
"I believe I'm a prudent person, but I didn't think I needed to see a doctor over this little thing," says Gaskill, who now has coverage through a state high-risk insurance pool.
USATODAY.com
Great example
