Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions by health insurance
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.
Discrimination against people with chronic conditions and injuries made it more difficult for them to obtain affordable health insurance. Historically the only way for people with chronic illnesses and injuries to get affordable coverage was to purchase the large group health insurance that was offered to employees in companies with at least 500 employees.
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.
Lori, 48, was a freelance writer who had high blood pressure that she controlled well with two medications. She could only afford affordable coverage after purchasing her own insurance and paying her monthly payments. She was frustrated at the lack affordable insurance she could afford. She tried to find more comprehensive health coverage for herself.
In the end, she enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan that included drug coverage and had no waiting period for her pre-existing conditions. She also paid an extra $2 per month for her prescription drugs.
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. Because the ACA caps the amount insurers may charge those with preexisting medical conditions, they are still subject to discrimination by companies that do not comply with the ACA. These companies will either exclude these individuals from their policy or raise the premiums for them in order offset the cost.
Coons claims the ACA offers preexisting condition coverage to more than 150,000,000 Americans whose health insurance is provided by their employer. This is not the case. HIPAA only provided protections against pre-existing conditions for people with employer-sponsored health insurance. The ACA, however, extended this to anyone who purchases their own individual or family coverage via the ACA 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. Those provisions of the Affordable Care Act that protect people from being denied healthcare coverage because of preexisting conditions are the most popular. Republicans have challenged the law in front of the Supreme Court multiple times but it has not been overturned. To ensure that everyone has affordable health insurance, it's important that Congress pass a strong law.