The Impact of Preexisting Conditions on Your Health Insurance Coverage

Health insurance rules and regulations can be complicated to navigate. However, it’s essential to have a baseline understanding of how it works, especially if you are searching for new health insurance coverage and you have a preexisting health condition.

What Is a Preexisting Condition?

A preexisting condition is a known illness, injury, or health condition in which you have received treatment or a diagnosis that existed before enrolling in health insurance. Some examples of preexisting conditions include heart disease, diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and asthma. Most preexisting conditions are long-term or chronic.

How Can Preexisting Conditions Affect Health Insurance?

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) made it illegal for insurers to deny coverage for ACA-compliant health care plans or charge more for preexisting conditions. You can also not be charged higher rates if your health changes while you are enrolled in a health plan. However, this does not apply to plans not compliant with the ACA or qualifying non-grandfathered plans.

It’s also important to note that the ACA typically does not apply to life insurance coverage. An insurer can deny you life insurance coverage due to a preexisting condition or set a higher premium compared to a policyholder of the same age who has no underlying conditions. Your death benefit may also be lower, and your policy could include a waiting period.

Learn More

For health insurance near you, contact Insurance Solutions USA. Our team can help answer any further questions you may have about health insurance coverage.

This blog is intended for informational and educational use only. It is not exhaustive and should not be construed as legal advice. Please contact your insurance professional for further information.