Can someone help me best understand how to choose reliable insurance? Can insurance companies opt to drop you at the end of the year if you have been diagnosed with something significant (particularly if it’s expensive to treat?

Quick question. I have international insurance (albeit an American company) but my question is general: if insurance is based on annual contracts, and you are diagnosed with something significant (that requires extensive treatment) towards the end of your contract, can the insurance company opt not to re-up with you? Or skyrocket your premiums? I know ACA has certain stop-gaps in place to try to limit prejudices against pre-existing conditions etc, but international insurance doesn't follow ACA unfortunately. I'm confused about how this works.

Can someone clarify how smart people keep themselves protected and avoid getting caught with no coverage? Insurance companies have such a terrible reputation that I don't even trust what I'm buying. My current insurance doesn't list every disease or potential procedure. They just list co-pays, deductibles, annual limits, and add a few other variables, like 'cancer is covered (but not specifically what methods of treatment), maternity is not etc.' I see all this stuff about second opinions, and experimental treatments, and expensive therapies that are denied by insurance carriers, and I have no idea how to even identify whether this would happen based on the info I'm given.

This is my first time buying my own insurance so I'm hoping to avoid screwing myself over somehow.

Thanks for the help!

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submitted by /u/Dense-Charity-1916
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