Serious pre-existing conditions can make it difficult to acquire health insurance.
If you happen to have diabetes or have had a heart attack, then you know the challenges of acquiring health insurance. The Affordable Care Act passed in March 2010 mandates that health insurance carriers offer insurance coverage to anyone regardless of medical history; however, that portion of the law does not go into effect until 2014. Even before this part of the law is in effect, there are options to help you get health insurance with pre-existing conditions.
Group Health Insurance
If your employer offers group health insurance coverage, you will be accepted into that plan. In order to join the group, you must enroll during the "open enrollment" period or have experienced a "qualifying event" that would permit you to enroll in the plan if it is not the open enrollment period. For instance, if you were covered on your spouse's health insurance and your spouse was laid off, you are now eligible to enroll in your company's group health insurance plan. Your benefits coordinator or human resources manager can provide you with the necessary forms to enroll.
COBRA or State Continuation
If you were covered on you company's group health insurance plan and lost your job, you have the option to continue your health insurance benefits for up to 18 months through COBRA. Your human resources manager will let you know the date your health insurance coverage ends if you do not elect to continue your benefits. You can elect COBRA coverage within 60 days of your termination. Your company can charge you up to the full amount of your insurance premium, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. If your company had less than 25 full-time employees, then your continuation of benefit coverage will be through the state in which your company operated. One important note: Companies that go out of business do not offer COBRA benefits, and your benefits terminate the day the company closed its doors not at the end of the month.
High-Risk Pool
Unless you live in a state that has passed a law mandating health insurance companies to accept all applications for insurance regardless of pre-existing health conditions, your state will offer a high-risk insurance pool. This risk pool provides coverage for people who are otherwise unable to obtain health insurance and is administered either by the state or by the Federal government through the Affordable Care Act.
Guaranteed-Issue States
As of March 2011, there are 6 states that had passed laws mandating insurance companies to offer health insurance to anyone who applied, regardless of pre-existing conditions. These states are: Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Washington. Other states offer enrollment periods where everyone who applies must be accepted. State Health Facts.org lists the eligibility criteria for each state.
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