Pre-Existing Conditions and Your Health Insurance Policy
When applying for health insurance coverage it is important to understand an insurance company's policies on pre-existing conditions.
Technically, any medical condition that you have had prior to your application for health insurance with a given company can be considered a pre-existing condition.
If you have been to a doctor about a bad back, even though the injury was four years ago and even though you received no treatment whatsoever, an insurance company could consider that a pre-existing condition.
Maybe you never went to a doctor, but had been aware for some time of a pain in your back.
It didn't bother you continually, but every once in a while you took an aspirin to alleviate the pain.
The pain in the back could also be considered a pre-existing condition.
Here are a few tips that will guide your discussion with an insurance agent: Understand how the insurance carrier defines "pre-existing.
" Each company has their own definition of pre-existing condition.
Having pre-existing conditions does not mean that your insurance rates will be higher.
But, if the pre-existing condition fits into a company's definition for such, it may mean that those conditions will not be covered by your insurance.
Ask for the time limit on what is considered a pre-existing condition.
Different companies put a time limit on what is considered a pre-existing condition.
One company gives a five-year look-back as the time span for determining a pre-existing condition.
Insurance companies vary on coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Some will cover pre-existing conditions that were treated three years ago, others four years ago, still some even five years ago.
You can generally find a statement about how an insurance company will handle a pre-existing condition by going to the "Exclusion" page in the insurance brochure.
Read the fine print relating to "Pre-Existing Conditions.
" This may determine whether or not the insurance will meet your needs.
Otherwise, you may think some medical problem will be taken care of even though it is clearly excluded from coverage because it is a pre-existing condition.
Speak with an insurance agent.
Insurance agents are experts on all different health insurance companies and policies.
They can save you valuable time.
Technically, any medical condition that you have had prior to your application for health insurance with a given company can be considered a pre-existing condition.
If you have been to a doctor about a bad back, even though the injury was four years ago and even though you received no treatment whatsoever, an insurance company could consider that a pre-existing condition.
Maybe you never went to a doctor, but had been aware for some time of a pain in your back.
It didn't bother you continually, but every once in a while you took an aspirin to alleviate the pain.
The pain in the back could also be considered a pre-existing condition.
Here are a few tips that will guide your discussion with an insurance agent: Understand how the insurance carrier defines "pre-existing.
" Each company has their own definition of pre-existing condition.
Having pre-existing conditions does not mean that your insurance rates will be higher.
But, if the pre-existing condition fits into a company's definition for such, it may mean that those conditions will not be covered by your insurance.
Ask for the time limit on what is considered a pre-existing condition.
Different companies put a time limit on what is considered a pre-existing condition.
One company gives a five-year look-back as the time span for determining a pre-existing condition.
Insurance companies vary on coverage for pre-existing conditions.
Some will cover pre-existing conditions that were treated three years ago, others four years ago, still some even five years ago.
You can generally find a statement about how an insurance company will handle a pre-existing condition by going to the "Exclusion" page in the insurance brochure.
Read the fine print relating to "Pre-Existing Conditions.
" This may determine whether or not the insurance will meet your needs.
Otherwise, you may think some medical problem will be taken care of even though it is clearly excluded from coverage because it is a pre-existing condition.
Speak with an insurance agent.
Insurance agents are experts on all different health insurance companies and policies.
They can save you valuable time.
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