How Health Insurance Coverage Is Attainable Regardless Of A Preexisting Condition

Let's face the facts: You are discriminated against when qualifying for health insurance if you have a pre existing condition. If you've even remotely looked into this already, you know that indeed, it is a fact.

The reason why insurance companies don't want to cover you with a preexisting health condition is because ultimately, you'll cost them more money than everyone else. Considering that a preexisting condition can include diabetes, cancer, heart disease, obesity, etc., it can be with you long-term or chronically for the rest of your life. Insurers are for profit companies. They are not in business to lose revenue. Getting the same results is common if you try looking for coverage with various insurance companies. Being declined is probable because underwriting is done in a similar fashion among all the insurers. But getting around it is possible with the following available options.

1) Obviously, you have coverage through your employer sponsored group plan if you are currently employed and your employer offers health benefits. All employees are included in the group and you can not be excluded. So in this scenario, you are covered.

2) COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) - If you lose your job, you and your family can continue to participate in your employer's group health benefit plan; but, at your own expense for 18 to 36 months. Although your pre-existing condition will be covered, it will cost you more than what you were paying while employed.

3) A few insurers do offer guaranteed issue health insurance coverage if you have a preexisting condition or are considered uninsurable. But, unlike a major medical plan, it is actually a limited medical plan. That simply means you'll have coverage up to a certain dollar limit for specific benefits. What ever is beyond that amount rests upon you. However, depending on which of these guaranteed plans you choose, you'll find that they cover a pretty fair amount or percentage of the Medicare Reimbursement Schedule. Lots of other health benefits come with it too.

With a preexisting condition, you want to make sure that you're covered through a guaranteed issue health plan that's HIPAA-compliant because as long as you've had continuous (no more than a 63-day break) creditable coverage (individual, group, managed care, standard indemnity, COBRA) for at least 12 months before applying, you will be covered immediately. Otherwise, your preexisting condition will have a 12-month exclusion or waiting period and then after that, you'll be covered. At least you'll know that it'll eventually be covered and you will not be turned away. Again, there are many other benefits that you will get as well. You'll be astonished.

4) Finally, state-guaranteed subsidized health insurance coverage is something that most of us have absolutely no awareness about. States do not spend money on advertising it for obvious financial reasons; which is not shocking. HIPAA-eligibility is a requirement (see above) for this unfortunately in some states,. I will preface by saying that it's specifically designed for people who are uninsurable which means they can not qualify for private health insurance coverage. It is not designed for those who can't afford to pay for health insurance. It's usually more expensive than private coverage for individuals with no health issues. Unlike commonly in an individual/family policy, the lifetime maximum benefit is lower; about $1 to $2 million. Some states require that you must be a resident of that state for a minimum amount of time before you are eligible; it varies. However, HIPAA-eligible individuals are not subject to state residency requirements.

Although it might be too late in your case, I am still going to mention that if you or a family member haven't developed a preexisting condition yet and are still healthy, I would recommend that you purchase a high-deductible health insurance plan. If a pre-existing condition does develop in the future that coverage will already be in place and your premium can not be increased because of it. It's guaranteed renewable which means as long as you do not miss a payment it can't be canceled.

Finally, for your pre-existing condition, you should be able to find some kind of health insurance solution, unless you are severely broke. Even in that case, there should be some kind of low income (or no income these days) Medicare program in your state. This might be a bit farfetched, but maybe someone that you're close to has good health insurance. Look into what you can legally do to become eligible under that person's health insurance plan. Give it a shot.