The Lowdown on Pre-existing Conditions

Many Americans have medical issues that insurance companies define as pre-existing conditions.

A pre-existing condition is a health problem that existed before the individual applied for a health insurance policy.

These health issues are taken into consideration by the insurance company regardless of whether the applicant sought treatment.

Minor conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol have generally been handled in one of two ways.

The applicant may be accepted on the basis that a higher premium is paid in order to cover the minor condition.

Or the insurance company may accept an applicant by placing a rider on the policy that excludes coverage for the specific condition, usually for a set period of time.

Most major health conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes have been cause for the decline in of health insurance policy applications.

For those with pre-existing conditions, however, President Barack Obama’s health care reform may offer some peace of mind. Insurance companies will be barred from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions.

At the same time, adults with medical conditions will be able to buy coverage through a temporary, subsidized high-risk insurance pool.

And starting in 2014, insurance companies will not be allowed to deny coverage to anyone with pre-existing conditions.

For those without health insurance, this could signal hope of soon being insured.

For the time being, those without pre-existing conditions should consider obtaining a policy or, if currently covered, keep their health insurance in force.

One of the best ways to safeguard against pre-existing condition issues is to have coverage already in place.

Having continuous coverage is a sure way to stay out of a potential health insurance crisis.

Contact my office if you would like a timeline of the new healthcare law. Beware, not all provisions of the law come into play immediately.