<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> This interesting response to my post just came in from Janet. [My comments in brackets.] ~Valerie in Tacoma ------------------ I just wanted to put my two cents in on the medical records issue: Valerie is 100% right about the nature of medical records. Currently, almost all doctors rely completely on patient self-report and do not ask for past records. However, the situation may change slowly as we get electronic medical records. In fact, the major reason for electronic medical records is to avoid redundant medical tests, communicate allergies and current medications, etc. Medical records may change drastically within the next decade, so doctors may expect to see documentation from past tests. Still, I would argue that it may be wise to specifically avoid documenting CD, for future insurability reasons. In particular, people who are older, but not close to 65, and in precarious health insurance circumstances (self-employed, employee of small company, may change jobs, company may drop or drastically change health insurance, etc.) may want to avoid having a formal test for this reason, since people really do find themselves priced out of the insurance market for things like CD. Eventually, there will be some kind of reinsurance to make the insurance companies less skittish about taking on people with pre-existing conditions like CD, but for the next few years, and probably longer, people who anticipate being on the individual or small group health insurance market are probably best with less testing rather than more. Janet (PhD candidate, Health Policy) ------------- [It's not just health insurance premiums that are impacted by pre-existing conditions. Life insurance as well. On average, diagnosed celaics have a higher death rate than the general population. That increased death rate may only apply to non-diet-compliant celiacs, but when it comes to setting fees the insurance company doesn't care whether you are compliant or not. For example, several years ago, I applied for life insurance. At the time of testing, my cholesterol was temporarily elevated (440) due to my forgetting to fast for breakfast. So they set my fee at a higher rate. No matter what evidence I presented that my cholesterol levels are usually normal, they stuck with the higher fee.] Valerie in Tacoma * All posts for product information must include the applicable country *