how do US professional runners (like at least sub 2:16 marathoner types) get health insurance?

viva italia wrote:

Remind me again why you Americans think this is an acceptable system.

Only the people in charge do

Which company are you able to buy it from? How elite are you dickhead?

I am a 15min 5k hobbyjogger guy doing 70-80mpw and fcking Aetna wont let me buy individual insurance.

If you're only earning 25-30k a year, the health insurance premiums are going to eat you alive. Plus, will your insurance actually cover things an elite athlete wants out of health care?

Rusty Shackleford wrote:

viva italia wrote:

Remind me again why you Americans think this is an acceptable system.

Only the people in charge do

+1

Let's see, you're wrong and can't defend your argument so that makes me a dickhead. You're a genius.

What companies? Among others Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Celtic, Wellpath.

I never said I was elite but I have trained in the 80 - 100 mpw range for extended periods of time. In 2006 my insurance company paid over $15,000 in charges for my knee surgery. But enough about me, let's go back to a statement from your first post:

"Even something such as acne can be enough to count as a pre-existing condition, thus disallowing you from purchasing individual health insurance."

So I guess only elite runners get acne?

Face it, what you said is untrue. It is possible to buy health insurance even with preexisting conditions.

Blowing.Rock Master wrote:

Face it, what you said is untrue. It is possible to buy health insurance even with preexisting conditions.

can be possible but extraordinarily difficult. almost EVERYTHING you can think of is a pre-existing condition.

Azaleas wrote:

If you're only earning 25-30k a year, the health insurance premiums are going to eat you alive. Plus, will your insurance actually cover things an elite athlete wants out of health care?

I'm 49 with 2 preexisting conditions and I'm paying about $2,000 a year. It would be even cheaper for someone in their 20s. They might have to go without cable, high speed internet, and a cell phone, but they should be able to afford the premiums.

And yes, the insurance covers the things an elite athlete needs.

It's not only possible, it's not even hard. You have to have an expensive condition before you encounter problems.

Add Kaiser to that list, too. Monthly premiums for about $150 a month. Sub elite, w/ a preexisting condition. Once I lost my job, I shopped for insurance and got the same plan that I had at my old job. Kept the same doctors, etc... they had all my files. If there was a problem w/ my pizza face, i think they would've told me. No?

Is the system the best? No. But it's damn sure better than socialized medicine that rationalizes care and costs more money.

Haha yo (super cereal) wrote:

I am a 15min 5k hobbyjogger guy doing 70-80mpw and fcking Aetna wont let me buy individual insurance.

aetna doesn't have insurance for individuals but plenty of other companies do. many other companies have self-employed policies but it's cheaper if you get packaged up into a pool with a bunch of other individuals.

genetic_dysfunction wrote:

Many of us in the US do not think this is an acceptable system at all. There is strong, if not majority, support for a full coverage government run health care system.

G_D

Whoa whoa whoa, easy now. There is strong support for universal health coverage. Even if the Tea Party would have you think otherwise (and face it, if you listen to them then you're a dumbfu\ck.)

However, a "government run health care system" is something entirely different. There's a level of regulation and administration we need government to do, but it's only the most extreme lefties who want government to take over the provision of services. That is definitely NOT the majority Democratic position.

The solution is to keep services in the private sector but have government make sure everybody is covered and everybody contributes.

I'm glad to hear that there are some reasonable options out there, but don't kid yourselves, our Canadian system covers virtually everything that runners require, including some chiro and some physio.

Most runners I know seem to have no problem getting in to see doctors.

On the economic side, our system has been objectively proven to deliver service on a lower per capita basis than the US.

You may disagree with Obama on other points, but some form of universal health care is in the best interests of Americans, as Romney said himself in his former life.

Pre-existing condition doesn't mean you are sick or have been sick. My ex-girlfriend was denied (by Kaiser) because she has breast implants. A coworker says she was denied because she had had laser eye surgery.

If you list your job as professional athlete (even if it's running) many insurance companies will deny you coverage. I know this for a fact because I used to be a professional runner.

Also many of these affordable plans people are talking about have really high deductibles and copays which is fine for most people who never go to the doctor, but it can be very expensive if you have weekly chiropractor or PT visits, or are seeing the orthopedic doctor for an injury.

The USOC health insurance which is available for athletes who have finished in the top 2 at USAs technically doesn't even cover running related injuries; those expenses have to be filed through a secondary USATF insurance company. It is a crazy system.

K.M., I'm not wrote:

Is the system the best? No. But it's damn sure better than socialized medicine that rationalizes care and costs more money.

Socialized medicine systems don't cost more money than our system. We have the highest per capita health care spending in the world. Our system also rations care, just in a different way than other systems. I mean, your insurance company can and does ration what sort of care you can get.

Although I am not a member of Hansons-Brooks, I did make a visit there 8 years ago.

HANSONS PROVIDE HEALTH INSURANCE.

In addition they have a Team Chiropractor, Team Physical therapist, Team Podiatrist and Team Orthapedic Surgeon. All of these are FREE and have no insurance limitations on number of visits.

They also have FREE (but limited) Massage and Bloodwork.

I thought that all of the "Training Centers" had these perks. I have since learned how wrong I was.

another banned poster wrote:

Pre-existing condition doesn't mean you are sick or have been sick. My ex-girlfriend was denied (by Kaiser) because she has breast implants. A coworker says she was denied because she had had laser eye surgery.

bingo!!!!

+1

guest1 wrote:

Also many of these affordable plans people are talking about have really high deductibles and copays which is fine for most people who never go to the doctor, but it can be very expensive if you have weekly chiropractor or PT visits, or are seeing the orthopedic doctor for an injury.

So, if you use a lot of health care and expect your insurance to pay for routine maintenance type of care then you pay higher premiums? Shocking and outrageous, I tell you!