“I consider myself a healthy person”
Shoreline kayaker, skier, and backpacker Kim Allen was denied private long-term care insurance for a pre-existing condition. She says I-2124 will take away her only other care coverage (WA State Standard: Here’s why Washington’s long-term care program is a game-changer)
“I was shocked when I was denied a policy due to a pre-existing condition, despite the fact my rare urological condition was surgically corrected in childhood. The exclusion of people with pre-existing conditions and the exorbitant cost of long-term care insurance premiums (ranging from $2,000-$7,000 or more annually – even after you retire) explains why only 3% of Americans have long-term care insurance policies. ”
Kim goes on to point out how I-2124 will impact her and millions of other with pre-existing conditions:
“If approved, I-2124 will put us at the mercy of for-profit insurance companies that routinely delay or deny coverage, refuse to cover people with pre-existing conditions, and habitually increase premiums by 50, 100 or even 300%. It will leave low and middle-income working families with no option but to drain their life savings and sell their assets to qualify for taxpayer-subsidized Medicaid.”
