Health Insurance Articles
Health Insurance Options For Those With Pre-existing Conditions
2009-11-22
For someone with a pre-existing condition, maintaining health insurance with a reputable company can be vital. However, it can also be extremely difficult. Depending upon the type and severity of the pre-existing condition, some health insurance companies may decline coverage to the applicant. Others may approve the applicant, but place restrictions on what parts of the condition will be covered by the health insurance policy. They could also place a waiting period on coverage, or refuse coverage of any health care associated with the pre-existing condition. The person with a pre-existing condition likely has enough to worry about without the added stress of finding a health insurance company to cover them. While the task of finding health insurance can seem like a relentless pursuit to someone with a pre-existing condition, there are options.
Group Health Insurance
Unlike individual health insurance, a group health insurance policy must cover all eligible applicants, and cannot deny coverage to someone on the basis of health conditions alone. The idea is that the healthy individuals enrolled in the group health insurance policy will make up for those who require more health care and medical attention. That is, the premiums paid by those in the group who are healthy will help pay for the health care expenses of those who are not. There are two possible ways of attaining a group health insurance plan. First, an employer-sponsored health insurance plan is a group policy that will cover any employees of the company who enroll in the plan. If health insurance is not available through the workplace, a group plan can often be attained through a professional organization or association. Many organizations and associations will make group health insurance available to its members as an added benefit.
High-Risk Pool
Most states in the United States carry a high-risk pool health insurance plan for those with pre-existing conditions. High-risk pools were designed for high-risk individuals who are unable to attain health care coverage anywhere else. For many, a high-risk pool health insurance policy is considered a last resort, and generally only applied for when all other options for health insurance have been exhausted. Monthly premiums and annual deductibles associated with high-risk pool plans are usually extremely high. However, high-risk pools are required to cover all individuals eligible for the plan regardless of any pre-existing condition. A person enrolling in a high-risk pool health insurance plan must have been previously denied coverage by at least one other health insurance company, and cannot have any other group health insurance available to them.
Pre-existing conditions can put a damper on finding affordable health insurance, However, it is a task made possible by the many options available to those affected.
