Suspected Rheumatoid Arthritis, should I get health insurance

daveyjoe

I am 30 and I suspect that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis based on my symptoms although I haven't been diagnosed yet. I have an appointment through the public system with a Rheumatologist for the end of September.

I'm wondering does it make sense to get health insurance now while I haven't been diagnosed and therefore don't have a pre-existing condition. My understanding is that if I'm diagnosed before I get health insurance then the insurer won't cover any related expenses for the first five years.

Also, if I get health insurance and am treated privately will I be able to get an earlier appointment than the end of September?

huskerdu

this might not be a good use of your money.
Most Private healh insurance policies in Ireland pay nothing or only a fraction of the cost of a visit to a private consultant.
The cost of the visit is likely to be 150 - 200 euro. My policy pays nothing, some policies pay 60 euro per visit.

The consultant is likely to give you a prescription and your PHI will not pay for this. You will have to pay this yourself.

If you want to see a consultant earlier, I would suggest that you just pay the fee to see someone private but don't cancel your public appointment.
However, if your appointment is for the end of September, thats only 6 weeks away. You might not get a private appointment much quicker.

When I got my first appointment with the RA unit in Vincents, 6 years ago, I was waiting 14 months.

Get a DPS card, if you dont already have one in case you get a prescripton for an expensive drug.

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/drugspaymentscheme/

If you are a tax payer, keep all receipts so you can claim tax back.

Good luck, its possible to live an active life with RA for many years. Dont be too disheartened.

daveyjoe

huskerdu wrote: »

this might not be a good use of your money.
Most Private healh insurance policies in Ireland pay nothing or only a fraction of the cost of a visit to a private consultant.
The cost of the visit is likely to be 150 - 200 euro. My policy pays nothing, some policies pay 60 euro per visit.

The consultant is likely to give you a prescription and your PHI will not pay for this. You will have to pay this yourself.

If you want to see a consultant earlier, I would suggest that you just pay the fee to see someone private but don't cancel your public appointment.
However, if your appointment is for the end of September, thats only 6 weeks away. You might not get a private appointment much quicker.

When I got my first appointment with the RA unit in Vincents, 6 years ago, I was waiting 14 months.

Get a DPS card, if you dont already have one in case you get a prescripton for an expensive drug.

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/drugspaymentscheme/

If you are a tax payer, keep all receipts so you can claim tax back.

Good luck, its possible to live an active life with RA for many years. Dont be too disheartened.

Thanks a million for the advice. I'll stay public so.

In the mean time, I'm going to give the Wim Hof method a try, it feels a bit sales-y but there seems to be solid published science behind it and a ton of anecdotal success stories. Doing something will hopefully help with the feeling of helplessness even if it doesn't yield physical results.

Vorsprung

No insurance company will cover you private costs incurred for a rheumatic condition while you're waiting for an appointment for a rheumatology clinic. Tends to be a 5 year gap period for pre-existing conditions.

daveyjoe

Vorsprung wrote: »

No insurance company will cover you private costs incurred for a rheumatic condition while you're waiting for an appointment for a rheumatology clinic. Tends to be a 5 year gap period for pre-existing conditions.

Sorry I don't understand what you mean. Are you saying that I wouldn't be covered even if I didn't have a pre-existing diagnosis?

drunkmonkey

daveyjoe wrote: »

Sorry I don't understand what you mean. Are you saying that I wouldn't be covered even if I didn't have a pre-existing diagnosis?

Not if your in the process, maximum waiting times here, http://www.hia.ie/consumer-information/waiting-periods/new-customer-waiting-periods
Has your doctor suggested it is what you think it is, looks like 26 weeks, are you in serious pain, can you kick it down the road a bit..

daveyjoe

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Not if your in the process, maximum waiting times here, http://www.hia.ie/consumer-information/waiting-periods/new-customer-waiting-periods
Has your doctor suggested it is what you think it is, looks like 26 weeks, are you in serious pain, can you kick it down the road a bit..

The appointment was made because I was consistently having knee pain after playing soccer. The appointment was actually made with a rheumatologist in the exercise clinic rather than a rheumatology clinic. I was playing twice a week at the time so I thought it was because of over-exertion (I've since cut down and play every couple of weeks if the knees are feeling up to it).

In the last couple of months I am now noticing it in my elbow and shoulder joints. I'm not in serious pain though. I would say the doctor made the original appointment more as a precaution.

drunkmonkey

Sound like muscle injurys of some sort, tennis elbow will give you pain in your shoulder and elbow. Have you went to see a neuro muscular therapist? Could be worth the €50 to get their 2 cent.

daveyjoe

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Sound like muscle injurys of some sort, tennis elbow will give you pain in your shoulder and elbow. Have you went to see a neuro muscular therapist? Could be worth the €50 to get their 2 cent.

Yeah, I was thinking Tendonitis first of all and that's what I said to the Doctor but based on bloods and symptoms she thought it was worth speaking to a rheumatologist. I'd tend to agree with her after comparing symptoms. My shoulders and elbows haven't undergone any major stress or usage in the last few months either (I have a desk job, I don't play tennis, haven't lifted weights in > 1 year etc..).

Anyway, I'll take care of myself, see how things pan out with the sports rheumatologist next month and go from there.

drunkmonkey

I don't play tennis either, didn't stop me getting it, literally there something over to someone and it kicked off. You'd know if you had it, pain would be always there if moving or twisting your elbow, could be difficult to sleep etc.
Hopefully something simple, would recommend the neuro muscular therapist though can fix a lot of things.