Finding Health Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions

If finding affordable health insurance is difficult with good health, then it is a real trial for those that have serious pre-existing medical conditions. It is also very important for anyone with a medical condition to seek health insurance, as without coverage any serious medical problems will quickly leave the entire family in overwhelming debt.

Although it may be very difficult to find coverage with a history of medical problems, it is still possible. Group insurance provided through your employer is the easiest way to gain coverage, as the insurance company grants coverage to all employees and accepts the chance that some members of the pool will be high risk. This is perhaps the best way to cover someone with medical risks, as it requires no medical examination and acceptance is guaranteed.

Be careful, however, that the health insurance as provided by your employer will cover the medical condition that you have. If the member of the family that has the condition is unemployable, matters are slightly more complicated. As such, the health benefits of a job are far more valuable than any other type of compensation in such a situation. If a member of the family can find a job that offers group family insurance, that will save a great deal of money in the future.

Without access to group insurance the options become more limited. Purchasing an individual insurance plan for someone with a serious medical condition is pretty much out of the question, as most insurance companies are not willing to take on that risk. Getting coverage for a pre-existing condition of one person under a family plan might be possible, but premiums will be very high.

As a last resort, every state has an open health insurance program that does not turn away any applicant. These plans, however, can be very expensive for someone with a pre-existing condition. If your family simply cannot afford this coverage, it may be possible to have this cost subsidized by the government. The state health insurance department can give you more information about possible insurance subsidies.

Depending on where you live, there are other options to look into other than the state open insurance plan. The Core Health Insurance plan allows you to adjust your premiums flexibly and pays doctors directly for medical expenses, so this may be a great plan to look into if it is offered in your state. Likewise, the Basic Health Insurance plan offers very limited coverage, but will cover pre-existing conditions. With both of these plans it is critical to enroll early and not when problems arise, as they have waiting periods of between 6 and 12 months for benefits to kick in.

The Value Health insurance plan available in some states is another possibility. Value Health insurance is affordable and will cover some major pre-existing conditions, although it has exclusions for some conditions such as cancer or AIDS. A public assistance program may also be available in your state. Public assistance plans for low income families can help tremendously to defray the cost of health insurance.

The high risk health insurance pool available in every state are always there if no other plan will work, but these plans can be very expensive and should be considered only if every other avenue has been explored. High risk coverage prices vary significantly depending on where you live. Coverage for one person with pre-existing conditions can reach as high as $1200. For this reason, the Basic Health Insurance plan or Value Health are usually more viable options.

If health insurance simply cannot be acquired, a discount plan may be a possibility. Discount plans provide access to a pool of doctors and facilities that give services at a reduced rate. Most discount plans charge a flat rate that is the same for all members. Expenses are paid out of pocket by the member, but significant savings can be achieved when using services offered under the discount plan.

Whatever your situation, don't be afraid to ask questions, whether of your employer, state insurance office, or of the insurer providing your health insurance. Health insurance can be very complicated when it comes to what exactly is covered, and it is crucial that you understand the details to avoid an avalanche of medical bills.