NIB changes their mind right before your surgery

I have been a loyal NIB customer for almost 10 years, with both couples and singles policies during this time. I have paid over $15,000 in premiums.

I called NIB last week to confirm that my basic plus policy covered hernia repair (as it says it does), confirmed the item numbers and gap, confirmed that there were no waiting periods and confirmed that my brief suspension last year due to financial hardship would not affect my claim: they confirmed it would not and on that basis I went ahead and booked urgent surgery.

As the hospital was starting the admissions process less than 24 hours before my surgery, NIB changed their mind and declined to cover the surgery, advising they now needed to do a pre existing conditions check taking up to three weeks, to have their experts assess if my condition presented during my <60 day suspension period (for the record it did not).

I've had to cancel the surgery because I can't afford it without the cover, and now I can't reschedule it until next year. I am a competitive powerlifter and am unable to continue training with my hernias, and also will not be able to train for competition for up to 6 months after any surgery, which now rules out the national competition I have qualified for next year.

I had private health care to avoid such a situation.

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