Health Insurance Articles
How To Get Health Insurance Coverage With A Preexisting Condition
2010-02-10
Many people who need health insurance coverage today are unable to get it due to a pre-existing condition. While it may seem as if it is impossible to get health insurance in such cases, options do exist. Here are some of the best ways for those with pre-existing conditions to get the health insurance policy they need.
The easiest option usually lies with your employer. If you have, or plan to get, a job that has a group health insurance plan, you cannot be denied coverage, even if you have a pre-existing condition. While the group insurance plan might not cover every incident that results from your pre-existing condition, they must still extend coverage to you. However, many people are not able to secure employment with a company that offers group coverage, so this is not an option for some. If you have been laid off or left your job but previously had group insurance, consider getting COBRA. While COBRA will be more expensive than the partial payments that you made while employed, it is one way to insure that you remain covered and have no lapse in your health coverage. COBRA cannot deny you the opportunity to continue your insurance plan based on pre-existing conditions.
There are 30 states in the U.S. that have "high risk pools". These high risk pools are designed to be an affordable insurance option for people who are unable to secure health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. Check to see if your state offers this option. Another possibility is the "insurer of last resort". As the name implies, this is an insurance company (each state has one company designated with this title) that is required by law to take every person who applies. As long as you had group insurance and lost it, you will qualify for the insurer of last resort provided you apply for it within 63 days of losing your group coverage. Each state has different guidelines as to how much the insurer of last resort can charge its policy holders. In some states there is no limit, so premiums may be in the thousands per month. Check with your state insurance commissioner regarding the rules and regulations for the state insurer of last resort.
Some people who have exhausted other options have finally been able to secure insurance by becoming their very own insurance group. In a handful of states, you can open your own business with yourself as the only employee and get health coverage. Since you are technically a business, health coverage cannot legally be denied in this instance. This is sometimes an expensive option, but it is a certain way to obtain insurance with a pre-existing condition.
