How Do Health Insurance Companies Determine Pre Existing Conditions?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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While insurers generally determine the presence of a pre-existing condition

based on an applicant’s current health status

, sometimes a healthy applicant can be deemed to have a pre-existing condition based on a past health problem or evidence of treatment for a particular condition.

Can insurance deny pre-existing conditions?


Health insurance companies cannot refuse coverage 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.

What counts as a pre-existing condition?

Preexisting condition is a term that refers to

a known illness, injury, or health condition that existed before someone enrolls in or begins receiving health or life insurance

. This includes illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and asthma.

What is acute onset of pre-existing conditions?

An acute onset of a pre-existing condition is defined as

a sudden and unexpected medical episode related to a pre-existing condition

. To be classified as acute onset, the medical event must occur spontaneously and without advance warning (either confirmed by a physician or by the obvious presence of symptoms).

Is High Cholesterol a pre-existing medical condition?

The left-leaning Center for American Progress notes that

high blood pressure, behavioral health disorders, high cholesterol, asthma and chronic lung disease, and osteoarthritis and other joint disorders are the most common types of pre-existing conditions

.

Will my insurance cover an old medical bill?

Even if your insurance policy has been cancelled,

old bills can still be sent to your insurance

. The coverage still applies for care you received during the time the policy was in effect.

Does Cobra cover pre-existing conditions?


Yes, COBRA Does Cover Pre-Existing Conditions

When you sign up for COBRA, you are actually continuing the same group health insurance that you had with your past employer. So, if your medical conditions were covered under that plan they will continue to be covered under COBRA.

Is the Affordable Care Act still in effect?

The Rest of the ACA Remains in Effect

Other than the individual mandate penalty repeal (and the repeal of a few of the ACA’s taxes, including the Cadillac Tax),

the ACA is still fully in effect

.

Is back pain a pre-existing condition?

In essence, they’re medical conditions that existed before your policy started. Some of the commonly understandable pre-existing conditions can be chronic illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma etc.

The pre-existing conditions can include chronic injuries like back pain too.

What is the difference between existing and pre-existing?

You can use pre- in ways that are redundant, but it’s a valid prefix, and

preexisting has its own meaning

. For instance, if you want to describe dinosaurs in relation to humans, existing doesn’t work, but preexisting does.

What does URC mean in insurance?


Usual Reasonable and Customary

is a term that insurance companies use to describe a limitation on their responsibility to pay for eligible medical expenses. Basically, URC refers to the fee typically charged by a provider for a specific procedure in a specific geographic area.

Is a stroke considered a pre-existing condition?

It could exclude all other conditions that developed as a result of your pre-existing condition. For example, if your excluded pre-existing condition was high blood pressure and you had a stroke as a result of your high blood pressure, the health insurance company might refuse to pay for your stroke treatment.

What does the word acute mean in medical?

Overview. Acute conditions are

severe and sudden in onset

. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack.

What are the most common pre-existing conditions?

What are some examples of pre-existing health conditions?

Chronic illnesses and medical conditions, including many forms of cancer, diabetes, lupus, epilepsy, and depression

may be considered pre-existing conditions.

Will I be denied life insurance for high cholesterol?

Because high cholesterol can put you at risk for heart attacks and strokes, two of the leading causes of death in the U.S., insurance companies consider it a risk factor.

If your cholesterol is particularly high, not well controlled with medication or if you have other health issues, you might even be denied coverage

.

How can I get my medical bills forgiven?

Medical Bill Forgiveness


Your provider will want to see proof in the form of tax returns and written documentation that you have no means to pay your medical bills

. You can also apply to nonprofit organizations like the PAN Foundation and CancerCare for help with your medical bills.

What illnesses are not covered by insurance?

  • Congenital Diseases/Genetic Disordered. …
  • Cosmetic Surgery. …
  • Health issues due to consumption of drugs, alcohol, and smoking. …
  • IVF and Infertility Treatments. …
  • Pregnancy Treatment. …
  • Voluntary Abortion. …
  • Pre-existing Illnesses. …
  • Self-Inflicted injury.

Who gets the insurance check for my medical bills?

In most cases when an injured patient gives the hospital the name of the insurance company responsible for paying the patient’s medical bills,

the insurance company

, in an effort to make sure the hospital will be paid, will send the check directly to the patient but with the check made payable to the patient (you) and …

Is COBRA the same coverage?


COBRA Is The Same Insurance You Had

By using your COBRA right, you simply have the same employer-sponsored health plan you just had before you lost it. When you elect to stay on your employer’s health insurance, you keep your same doctors, copays and prescription coverage.

Is pregnancy a pre-existing condition Unitedhealthcare?

Is pregnancy treated as a pre-existing condition?

Yes. If you were pregnant before you applied, your insurance plan can’t reject you or charge you more because of your pregnancy

. Once you’re enrolled, your pregnancy and childbirth are covered from the day your plan starts.

Does deductible reset with COBRA?


Your Insurance Deductible Will Rollover When COBRA Insurance Is Elected

. Your election of COBRA is a continuation of the exact same health plan you had through your employer.

Is the Affordable Care Act still in effect for 2021?


This repeal is still in effect in 2021

, eliminating the fine for those without health insurance plans in most states. A few states do have their own mandates in 2021, including California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island, and Washington.

Why were many senior citizens opposed to the Affordable Care Act?

The opposition to a government role in health care is based on the fact that that

the vast majority of our citizens do not trust their government

. Republicans are much less trusting of the federal government and much less supportive of a government role in health care than Democrats.

What replaced the Affordable Care Act?

What is

Trumpcare

? Trumpcare is the nickname for the American Health Care Act (AHCA). This plan was written by Republicans in the House of Representatives as a replacement plan for the ACA. The AHCA was voted on and passed in the House on May 4, 2017.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.