Can I get medical insurance with a pre-existing condition?

Asked by: Dr. Filomena Lynch I  |  Last update: July 8, 2023
Score: 4.4/5 (57 votes)

Yes. Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can't refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts.

Can you be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition?

Health insurers can no longer charge more or deny coverage to you or your child because of a pre-existing health condition like asthma, diabetes, or cancer, as well as pregnancy. They cannot limit benefits for that condition either.

What is considered a preexisting medical condition?

As defined most simply, a pre-existing condition is any health condition that a person has prior to enrolling in health coverage. A pre-existing condition could be known to the person – for example, if she knows she is pregnant already.

What is a waiting period for a pre-existing condition?

The time period during which a health plan won't pay for care relating to a pre-existing condition. Under a job-based plan, this cannot exceed 12 months for a regular enrollee or 18 months for a late-enrollee.

How do insurance companies know about pre-existing conditions?

Medical Check-up:

In case you have a pre-existing disease, the insurance company might ask you to go for a medical check-up. The insurance premium will be based on the test results.

FAQ Health Insurance & Pre-Existing Conditions

45 related questions found

What are pre-existing conditions exclusions?

The pre-existing condition exclusion period is a health insurance provision that limits or excludes benefits for a period of time. The determination is based on the policyholder having a medical condition prior to enrolling in a health plan.

What is the difference between existing and pre-existing?

A. You can use pre- in ways that are redundant, but it's a valid prefix, and preexisting has its own meaning. For instance, if you want to describe dinosaurs in relation to humans, existing doesn't work, but preexisting does.

What are examples of pre-existing conditions?

A medical illness or injury that you have before you start a new health care plan may be considered a “pre-existing condition.” Conditions like diabetes, COPD, cancer, and sleep apnea, may be examples of pre-existing health conditions. They tend to be chronic or long-term.

Does Aflac cover pre-existing conditions?

Disability caused by a Pre-existing Condition will not be covered unless it begins more than 12 months after the Effective Date of coverage. Aflac will not pay benefits for a Disability that is being treated outside the territorial limits of the United States.

What happens if you don't have health insurance and you go to the hospital?

However, if you don't have health insurance, you will be billed for all medical services, which may include doctor fees, hospital and medical costs, and specialists' payments. Without an insurer to absorb some or even most of those costs, the bills can increase exponentially.

Is the Affordable Care Act still in effect?

Yes, the Affordable Care Act (also called Obamacare) is still in effect.

What is a grandfathered health plan?

Grandfathered plans are those that were in existence on March 23, 2010 and have stayed basically the same. Grandfathered plans are not required to provide all of the benefits and consumer protections required by the Affordable Care Act.

How long do you have to have Aflac before you can use it?

The Plan contains a 30-day Waiting Period. This means no benefits are payable for any Insured who has been diagnosed before their coverage has been in force 30 days from the Effective Date.

How much will Aflac pay me?

Accident Hospital Confinement Benefit Aflac will pay $250 per day for which a covered person is charged for a room for hospital confinement* of at least 18 hours for treatment of injuries sustained in a covered accident. This benefit is payable up to 365 days per covered accident, per covered person.

What is considered a critical illness for Aflac?

Critical Illnesses are: Heart Attack due to coronary artery disease or acute coronary syndrome; ischemic Stroke due to advanced arteriosclerosis or arteriosclerosis of the arteries of the neck or brain; hemorrhagic Stroke due to uncontrolled high blood pressure, malignant hypertension, brain aneurysm, or arteriovenous ...

How many Americans have no health insurance?

Uninsured people

In 2020, 31.6 million (9.7%) people of all ages were uninsured at the time of the interview (Table 1). This includes 31.2 million (11.5%) people under age 65. Among children, 3.7 million (5.0%) were uninsured, and among working- age adults, 27.5 million (13.9%) were uninsured (Figure 1).

Is arthritis a pre-existing condition?

Arthritis is generally considered pre-existing medical condition. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't get travel insurance, but you do need to disclose your condition before you book your cover. With arthritis, you'll need to declare your specific type of arthritis whether it's osteo, rheumatoid, or psoriatic.

What does it mean by pre existing?

Definition of preexisting

: existing at an earlier time a preexisting medical condition.

What's another word for pre existing?

Pre-existing synonyms

Existing previously. Already in existence before (something else).

Can I get Aflac without an employer?

You can offer Aflac Supplemental Insurance to your employees at no direct cost to your business. As health care continues to rise, supplemental insurance plays a more important role in offering a benefits package. Many employers also believe offering a supplemental insurance option helps attract and retain employees.

Does Aflac pay if you have surgery?

AFLAC will pay benefits according to the Schedule of Operations when a covered person has a surgical operation performed for a covered sickness in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center. Only one benefit is payable per 24-hour period for surgery even though more than one surgical procedure may be performed.

What is the advantage of having a grandfathered health plan?

There is no specific end date for grandfathered status. Q2: What are the advantages of grandfathered status? Grandfathered plans are not required to meet these ACA requirements: Coverage of preventive care without employee cost-sharing, including contraception for women.

How do you get grandfathered in?

A grandfather clause, also known as grandfather policy, grandfathering, or grandfathered in, is a provision in which an old rule continues to apply to some existing situations while a new rule will apply to all future cases.