Tuliprose

Growing up in a family of alcoholic insurance agents I’ve been told not to admit how much you actually drink.... can I get a WHAT THE*****???? Supposedly my insurance rates will
go up???? I really don’t care if it means a better life in the long run! I’m anxious about what bloodwork will reveal if anything while I’m still drinking regularly and whether I should try AA before going straight to my doc for help. I think I know the better choice but curious of everyone’s opinions. Thanks in advance

rainbowalien

ColoradoRocky

Obviously you know the answer.

I'll give you a little 411...if you ask around a little in AA you might very well find by word of mouth a doctor who's known to work without putting "Alcoholic" or UAD (ADU?) or whatever they're calling it these days, in your medical record.

Callas

I went to my GP before I did anything else. It saved me.

saoutchik

Your medical records are private and my understanding is that they would not be released unless authorised by you. I think my inclination would be to go to your GP and get checked over, you don't have to use the word alcoholic, just say you are anxious about your drinking and would like help to quit. As far as AA goes I would try it and see. It's not for everyone but there is only potential upside in attending a session or two and no downside. Good luck.

August252015

Yes, go to your MD and be totally honest (that's a tough one for all of us). I've never heard of it impacting insurance rates (like smoking, for example - if you have an individual not group/employer policy) but maybe. It's your life tho, so....

ALSO - many MDs still don't know (enough) about alcoholism and addiction. Smart ones get you to specialists who do (whether also MDs but with addiction training, or those practicing just that type of med). Don't let a less knowledgeable dr convince you that you don't have a problem if you are bothered by your drinking. Dr Google is also a bad way to "deal with" concerns.

Get a baseline of what's up - and in addition, go to a psychiatrist for mental eval. So many things that are present when we are drinking may or may not be actual depression, anxiety, so on.

I had to use every source possible to me for physical, emotional and mental care to get sober, and I do so to stay that way. As I've gone along to just past 3.5 yrs, that means checking in with my GP re thyroid med maintenance, the appropriate visits to GYN based on my age and no babies, now a back surgeon, my therapist and my psych....

Taking care of ourselves in every way is critical.

Zebra1275

I don't know that your rates would go up, but it seems to me that the choice is simple.

Do you want to save your life, or do you want to save money?

AnvilheadII

if you are in the US, your medical records are covered by HIPAA. if you have health insurance through your employer, your individual rate would never go up, as the entire group is covered.

i suspect they may have meant for LIFE insurance...........NOT health insurance. and they also don't want anyone pulling the big reveal on the family SECRET.

gypsytears

If you’re inclined to give AA a try I say start going to meetings now. Tonight, this weekend... no reason you can’t go now. Go ahead and make a doctors appointment. Get your bloodwork done. Have a thourough check up. Discuss your concerns with him/her. You can do both AA and the doctor simultaneously. I don’t know about insurance rates etc but health is priceless.

Flower2327

Telling my doctor probably saved my life, and as others have mentioned, I don't think there's any way for your health insurance provider to find out. (I broke down and told him during my annual physical; all my insurance knows is that I had a physical and the associate lab work).

I will say, if you don't think your current GP is the right person to help you through this - or if their reaction when you tell them suggests as much - I wouldn't hesitate to look for a new one.

babycat

I think it would be good to find (or make sure your doc is) sympathetic or at least understanding to the plight of alcoholics. Many are not. But yeah, always good to see a doc.