Health insurance cover for pre existing conditions
Until the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, most individual and family health plans in the United States excluded coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Those with common conditions such as high blood pressure, allergies or asthma were forced to pay higher insurance premiums.
This discrimination had a big impact on people with chronic illnesses and injuries, which made it difficult to find affordable coverage. Historically, employees who worked for companies with 500+ employees could only purchase large group health plans to avoid discrimination.
They were also more expensive, and did not include all of the features most people need, like prescription drug coverage or pre-ventive services. They often also included lifetime limitations on benefits. Many of these plans also charge extremely high out-of pocket costs for cancer treatment and other major medical bills.
Before the ACA, a person with a pre-existing condition could face a waiting period before they could enroll in a new plan. This waiting period may range from six to twelve months, depending on state regulations and the type of insurance plan.
For example, a 48-year-old freelance writer named Lori had a chronic high blood pressure condition that was well controlled on two medications. She couldn't get affordable coverage until after she bought her policy and paid her monthly premiums. She was disappointed by the inability to afford insurance. She searched for ways to increase her coverage.
She eventually enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan. This plan included drug coverage, and there was no waiting periods for pre-existing health conditions. She paid $2 extra per month to cover her medications with a prescription drug plan.
Preexisting conditions are still a factor in insurance decisions, and can be used to deny coverage or force people to pay more for their policy. However, this happens very rarely. The ACA limits the amount of premiums that insurers can charge for people with preexisting health conditions. However, non-ACA compliant companies can still discriminate against them by excluding them from their policies and/or raising the rates to cover these people.
Coons says that the ACA protects preexisting conditions for more than 150,000,000 Americans who have their health coverage via their workplace, but this statement isn't entirely accurate. HIPAA offered preexisting condition coverage to employees with employer coverage. However, the ACA made that protection available to all those who purchased individual and family health coverage through the ACA's marketplace.
A Ca and Pre Existing Conditions
The Affordable Care Law is an important law which has helped millions to obtain affordable health insurance in the US. Among the most popular provisions of the law are those that protect people with preexisting conditions from being denied health coverage. Republicans have tried to overturn the law several times in the Supreme Court but failed. It is therefore vital that Congress passes a strong health insurance law that will ensure everyone can afford it.