dwilson - 6:46 pm on Dec 18, 2003 (gmt 0)

Slightly off topic, but just to let you know in the US, an insurance company has to cover pre-exsisting conditions as long as you have had them covered by ANY insurnace company for the prior six months. It's the law.

That's for group coverage. If you're not in a group, you CAN get turned down - or have an exclusion put on for the pre-existing condition. That happened to my wife when I worked for a place that did not offer health insurance.

Many states have their own programs. SC has the South Carolina Health Insurance Pool. They are expensive and offer poor service -- but it's something in case of major health problems.