How do I cover pre-existing conditions?
Asked by: Jaida Stanton | Last update: January 3, 2026Score: 5/5 (38 votes)
How do I get insurance with a pre-existing condition?
Is there health insurance for pre-existing conditions? Choosing a health plan is no longer based on the concept of a pre-existing condition. A health insurer cannot deny you coverage or raise rates for plans if you have a medical condition at the time of enrollment.
Can Medicare refuse to cover pre-existing conditions?
Yes. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans won't reject your enrollment if you have a preexisting condition.
Do any insurers cover pre-existing conditions?
In some cases, you'll also need to give the insurer access to your medical records. The insurer can then decide if they want to insure you or not for a pre-existing condition. So, you may be able to get insurance for a pre-existing medical condition that is excluded with Moratorium underwriting.
How do you cover pre-existing diseases?
Most health insurance plans cover pre-existing diseases after a waiting period. During this period, any claim raised for the treatment of a pre-existing disease will be rejected by your insurance provider. Usually, a pre-existing disease waiting period ranges from 2 to 4 years.
Understanding Pre-Existing Conditions
Can I buy health insurance and use it immediately?
Many, but not all, short term health insurance plans can take effect the day after your application is received.
How far back is a pre-existing condition?
A pre-existing medical condition is a disease, illness or injury for which you have received medication, advice or treatment or had any symptoms (whether the condition has been diagnosed or not) in the five years before your joining date. Health insurance doesn't usually cover 'pre-existing conditions'.
Can an insurer exclude 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.
How do insurance companies know if you have a pre-existing condition?
To determine if a condition is pre-existing, insurers examine medical history, treatment records, and diagnosis reports. They may use “look-back periods,” which are specific timeframes—typically six months to a year before coverage begins—to review medical history.
Is acid reflux a pre-existing condition?
Reflux is often a side effect of medication that is prescribed to treat heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation or heart failure. Is reflux really a pre-existing medical condition? The simple answer is yes.
What happens if pre-existing conditions are not covered?
Coverage for pre-existing conditions
No insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition you had before your coverage started. Once you're enrolled, the plan can't deny you coverage or raise your rates based only on your health.
What is the waiting period for a pre-existing condition under a Medicare?
In some cases, the Medigap insurance company can refuse to cover your out of pocket costs for these pre‑existing health problems for up to 6 months. This is called a “pre‑existing condition waiting period.” After 6 months, the Medigap policy will cover the pre‑existing condition.
Will my new insurance cover an old medical bill?
Conclusion: Will My Insurance Cover an Old Medical Bill? Your insurance will only cover an old medical bill if that insurance was in effect on the date medical services were provided. If you did not have health insurance in effect on the date of service, any new insurance won't pay for that old medical bill.
What pre-existing conditions are not covered by life insurance?
- Anxiety and depression.
- Asthma.
- Diabetes.
- Heart disease.
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol.
- HIV.
- Obesity.
Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover past medical bills?
Health insurance policies are designed to cover medical expenses incurred during the period when the policy is active. This means that if you received medical services before your policy's effective date, those expenses are generally not covered.
Will AFLAC pay for pre-existing conditions?
Disability caused by a Pre-existing Condition or reinjuries to a Pre-existing Condition will not be covered unless it begins more than 12 months after the Effective Date of coverage.
What is the waiting period for pre-existing diseases?
Almost all health insurance plans cover pre-existing diseases after a waiting period of usually 2 to 3 years. This implies that any hospitalization expenses related to the declared ailments can be claimed only after 2 to 3 successful years with the insurer.
What counts as a pre-existing medical condition?
You may have gone for tests, scans or other investigations before you had health insurance and only received a diagnosis later. It applies to any medical condition that you saw your doctor about the five years before the start date on your health insurance.
Does Medicare cover pre-existing conditions?
Medicare defines a pre-existing condition as any health problem that you had prior to the coverage start date for a new insurance plan. If you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, you are generally covered for all Medicare basics even if you have a pre-existing condition.
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.
What does the Affordable Care Act do?
Under the Affordable Care Act, patients who may have been uninsured due to preexisting conditions or limited finances can secure affordable health plans through the health insurance marketplace in their state.
How do insurance companies prove pre-existing conditions?
Medical records play a pivotal role in personal injury claims. They serve as detailed documentation of the plaintiff's medical history, including: Pre-existing Conditions: Records of any ongoing treatments, diagnoses, and medical consultations before the incident.
Why are pre-existing conditions not covered?
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.
How far back does pre-existing condition last?
A group health plan can count as pre-existing conditions only those conditions for which you actually received (or were recommended to receive) a diagnosis, treatment or medical advice within the 6 months immediately before you joined that plan. This period is known as the “look back” period.
What percentage of people have pre-existing conditions?
Introduction. According to a new analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services, 50 to 129 million (19 to 50 percent of) non-elderly Americans have some type of pre-existing health condition.