Startling news shows that one in five California residents (under the age of 65) have a “pre-existing” condition, which could render them ineligible for coverage, or offered premiums at inflated rates. Though health care reform promises all Americans coverage by 2014, this still leaves many without the coverage they need for years. What is considered a pre-existing condition? Pretty much anything you have been treated for, or are currently under treatment for prior to applying for coverage. While not all conditions will result in your denial for coverage, it can result in an increase in the monthly premiums from 20% – 100% higher. If you had a lapse in coverage, but are approved for coverage on a new plan, there may be a waiting period of 6 months before anything relating to your pre-existing condition will be covered by your insurance plan. The good news is as of September of this year, children under the age of 19 cannot be denied coverage due to their pre-existing conditions.
Posts Tagged ‘underwriting’
Pre-existing Conditions and California Residents
Thursday, July 8th, 2010Health Care Reform is here! What does this mean for you?
Monday, March 22nd, 2010No one really knows! It seems that revisions are made by the hour, and nothing is quite set in stone as of yet. Also (as of this hour) 11 states have filed lawsuits stating that the bill is unconstitutional, in that it forces people to pay for coverage or face financial penalties. Does it promise to cover all Americans? Supposedly, by 2014, after spending the next few years inching towards this goal by means of guaranteed issue policies, no lifetime maximum amounts, the cessation of policy rescission’s, etc. Once this is in place, individual policies would be purchased via an exchange:
Blue Shield of California Cancellations for Non-Payment of Premiums
Thursday, December 24th, 2009The Medical Information Bureau and You
Thursday, December 17th, 2009Is there a database out there with all of your medical information available to prospective and current insurers? No. However, there does exist a shared central database called the Medical Information Bureau that may contain some important medical information about you. This data base is used primarily by insurance companies when applying for individual or life insurance. These companies can use information in the MIB’s database to help make a decision as to whether or not you will be offered coverage.
Insurance Policy Rescissions versus AB 1945
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009AB 1945 (amendment to Section 10384 of the Insurance Code) recently passed in the State of California in light of all the recent publicity from insurance policy rescission’s. This Bill “prohibits a health care service plan or health insurer from engaging in post claims underwriting, defined to mean the rescinding, canceling, or limiting of a plan contract or policy due to the plan’s or insurer’s failure to complete medical underwriting and resolve all reasonable questions relative to an application for health care coverage before issuing the plan contract or policy“.
