Integrated shield plans

[reddevil0728]

I wish to ask everyone for advice for a particular scenario.

lets say more than a decade ago, my agent persuaded me to buy an Integrated Shield Plan but did not let me know that I need to declare any pre-existing conditions. I genuinely did not know as I was very ignorant then.

Since then, I was clinically diagnosed with depression.

I recently met a better agent and this agent advice me to do a re-declaration.

If I do a re-declaration, is it alright if just declare the conditions before I bough the ISP? or I need to declare conditions that happened after I bought the ISP? I am a bit concerned as I read that depression is a straight-out rejection by all insurers for ISP.

So you were diagnosed with depression before or after your original purchase of ISP?

 

[firsttimebuyer]

So you were diagnosed with depression before or after your original purchase of ISP?

I was diagnosed with depression AFTER the original purchase.

The problem is, I had asthma before the purchase but my agent never asked me to declare at the point of purchase. I also didn't know i need to declare.

I know that from my experience with accident plan with a different insurer, they treat the re-declaration as a totally brand new thing, so I think there is the risk that I will totally lose my integrated shield plan.

 

[StarisX]

I was diagnosed with depression AFTER the original purchase.

The problem is, I had asthma before the purchase but my agent never asked me to declare at the point of purchase. I also didn't know i need to declare.

I know that from my experience with accident plan with a different insurer, they treat the re-declaration as a totally brand new thing, so I think there is the risk that I will totally lose my integrated shield plan.

When did you buy the shield plan and when you are diagnosed with depression? If it's just like 1-2 months apart, you are inviting the insurer to do more check right.

 

[qhong61]

I wish to ask everyone for advice for a particular scenario.

lets say more than a decade ago, my agent persuaded me to buy an Integrated Shield Plan but did not let me know that I need to declare any pre-existing conditions. I genuinely did not know as I was very ignorant then.

Since then, I was clinically diagnosed with depression.

I recently met a better agent and this agent advice me to do a re-declaration.

If I do a re-declaration, is it alright if just declare the conditions before I bough the ISP? or I need to declare conditions that happened after I bought the ISP? I am a bit concerned as I read that depression is a straight-out rejection by all insurers for ISP.

The condition after ISP

 

[reddevil0728]

I was diagnosed with depression AFTER the original purchase.

The problem is, I had asthma before the purchase but my agent never asked me to declare at the point of purchase. I also didn't know i need to declare.

I know that from my experience with accident plan with a different insurer, they treat the re-declaration as a totally brand new thing, so I think there is the risk that I will totally lose my integrated shield plan.

Didn’t you have to fill up form? Didn’t know or didn’t care to declare?

anyway had you done it right the first time, any conditions AFTER don’t have to declare.

but your circumstances now a bit complex

The condition after ISP

Huh declare conditions after getting ISP???

 

[item2sell]

Even if you declare. The insurer will exclude conditions related to asthma.
For now. I feel It’s better to let the insurer know and get a written document about any possible exclusion

 

[xsoldix]

Hey everyone,

i'm with income for this insurance plan since many years ago (100% rider .. then they changed to 5%copay).
thinking for moving from income plan to singlife.
i have the rider that makes my copay 5% only.

anyone know if they are the same or staying with income is better?

TIA.

 

[reddevil0728]

Hey everyone,

i'm with income for this insurance plan since many years ago (100% rider .. then they changed to 5%copay).
thinking for moving from income plan to singlife.
i have the rider that makes my copay 5% only.

anyone know if they are the same or staying with income is better?

TIA.

What’s your intention of moving? Because of features? Or because it’s cheaper now?

 

[BBCWatcher]

i'm with income for this insurance plan since many years ago (100% rider .. then they changed to 5%copay).
thinking for moving from income plan to singlife.

Why are you thinking of moving to Singlife?

i have the rider that makes my copay 5% only.
anyone know if they are the same or staying with income is better?

If you switch Integrated Shield carriers then you are subject to preexisting condition and congenital abnormalities "resets." That means any medical expenses relating to conditions(*) that existed prior to your enrollment with the new carrier are not covered (except to MediShield Life coverage limits). That also usually means a new 12 or 24 month waiting period for coverage of any medical expenses related to congenital abnormalities. For these reasons alone it's generally not a good idea to switch carriers.

(*) "Preexisting conditions" in this context generally means conditions that you knew about, or reasonably should've known about, at the time of enrollment.

 

[qhong61]

Didn’t you have to fill up form? Didn’t know or didn’t care to declare?

anyway had you done it right the first time, any conditions AFTER don’t have to declare.

but your circumstances now a bit complex

Huh declare conditions after getting ISP???

Cos he want to get a new isp.
And to declare his depression.
Asthma pre existing already

 

[firsttimebuyer]

Didn’t you have to fill up form? Didn’t know or didn’t care to declare?

anyway had you done it right the first time, any conditions AFTER don’t have to declare.

but your circumstances now a bit complex

Huh declare conditions after getting ISP???

I genuinely didn't know. I was quite young at that time and the agent did not went through the form with me. I actually did not went out to buy this policy on my own. I was mis-informed that i was only the beneficiary, not the policy owner. Its a very complicated story but can't reveal much for fear of doxxing.

 

[reddevil0728]

Cos he want to get a new isp.
And to declare his depression.
Asthma pre existing already

Thanks for clarifying

I genuinely didn't know. I was quite young at that time and the agent did not went through the form with me. I actually did not went out to buy this policy on my own. I was mis-informed that i was only the beneficiary, not the policy owner. It’s a very complicated story but can't reveal much for fear of doxxing.

You signed the form regardless right.

 

[firsttimebuyer]

Cos he want to get a new isp.
And to declare his depression.
Asthma pre existing already

It's actually an existing ISP.

 

[Nofear40]

It's actually an existing ISP.

That is why I don’t understand why need to declare and get excluded for this if this is only diagnosed after signing? Or is within the window period?

 

[reddevil0728]

That is why I don’t understand why need to declare and get excluded for this if this is only diagnosed after signing? Or is within the window period?

I think poster is talking about pre ISP. But already got asthma.

didn’t declare

 

[soneat]

I wish to ask everyone for advice for a particular scenario.

lets say more than a decade ago, my agent persuaded me to buy an Integrated Shield Plan but did not let me know that I need to declare any pre-existing conditions. I genuinely did not know as I was very ignorant then.

Since then, I was clinically diagnosed with depression.

I recently met a better agent and this agent advice me to do a re-declaration.

If I do a re-declaration, is it alright if just declare the conditions before I bough the ISP? or I need to declare conditions that happened after I bought the ISP? I am a bit concerned as I read that depression is a straight-out rejection by all insurers for ISP.

If you want to do this, you need to be very very very accurate and precise. Else it might go into a mess.

1. The redeclaration is basically for declaration at the point BEFORE you bought your ISP. Check and read the form.
- This means you only need to declare Asthma.
- This means you do not need to declare conditions you developed after you bought the ISP.

2. Asthma declaration may or may not lead to exclusion.
- Depends whether you still have any follow-up, and if you are still having medication.
- If no longer having relapse, then they will typically look at when is the last occurence
- What type of medication used?
- Any extended leave/hospitalisation due to Asthma.

 

[bombshell]

Can stick to your old plan and change agent?
IMO having a good plan is better than having a good agent. By changing ISP, you may lose the coverage of all ur pre-existing conditions now.

 

[blurpandasg2014]

If u never claim or have any follow up for your asthma, should be pretty safe

Also, what if there are some instance where there are minor operations done during infant but you are not aware of the exact details; or parents may not be "educated" to declare the specifics. How will insurers treat such cases

 

[CrashWire]

If u never claim or have any follow up for your asthma, should be pretty safe

Also, what if there are some instance where there are minor operations done during infant but you are not aware of the exact details; or parents may not be "educated" to declare the specifics. How will insurers treat such cases

The confusing thing is how there's no common industry practice for declarations and exclusions.

Some insurers say that 5 years of no treatment or follow up is enough to not declare, some others don't. And yes, what if there are things that parents (who may not have had the fortune to be educated) did not know, and relied on the agent who sold them the policy?

The lack of regulation when it comes to the buying process of something as essential as health policies is ridiculous.

 

[soneat]

If u never claim or have any follow up for your asthma, should be pretty safe

Also, what if there are some instance where there are minor operations done during infant but you are not aware of the exact details; or parents may not be "educated" to declare the specifics. How will insurers treat such cases

Just do a declaration for peace of mind.

The general rule of thumb is if the condition is a "history" with no relapse, follow-up, medications, symptoms for the past 20 years, the insurer will not impose exclusions. Some insurers use 5 years.

In cases of those minor surgeries long ago, also just declare with whatever information you have in the medical declaration form - Who, what, when, where, why . Let the insurer go dig.