How Pre-Existing Condition Can Affect your Health Insurance
Reader’s Question:
What is a pre-existing condition and how can that affect my application for a health insurance policy in Washington DC?
Sasha
Washington, DC
Hello there, Sasha.
By definition, it really means any health condition that you already have when you apply for a health insurance plan. Ore-existing condition applies even if you get your insurance coverage through your employer. The Washington DC insurance company to which you are applying for coverage is allowed to dig up your medical history, such as verifying from your records whether or not you received any medical treatment 6 months prior to your application. This will actually determine what medical conditions you already have upon enrollment for coverage by their health insurance plan.
What if your medical procedure or treatment was made more than 6 months prior to you application? Will that count as pre-existing condition too? My answer is NO. Under the Federal Law, any relative medical condition that was more than 6 months before your application does not count as a ‘pre existing condition’.
If your health card is an individual health insurance policy, then Federal law will not apply. This time, the health insurance company is allowed to dig up your claims history the past year, 18 months, or even longer to determine your pre-existing conditions before granting you coverage. Bear in mind though that rules on pre-existing conditions will vary from state to state.
What to Know Before Buying Health Insurance
Reader’s Question:
If I buy am individual health insurance policy in Washington DC, what are the things that I need to know before I decide which one to purchase?
Casey
Washington, DC
Thanks for asking, Casey.
First of all you need to calculate your health costs. In most individual health insurance policies, coverage is not always 100%. The policyholder will usually have to spend out-of-pocket expenses for health care for anything below the deductible. Most health insurance policies in Washington DC with low premiums will end up costing your more on your out of pocket expenses. Never be tempted to purchase low health insurance quotes right away. In most cases, these are the health insurance policies which cannot give you the best financial protection that you need against medical expenses in times of emergency medical spending.
So you also have to gather all the information you need on the potential health costs under a health insurance policy. There are expenses like co-payments and co-insurance in any cost-sharing health insurance obligations.
Be guarded about the fine print in your health insurance policies, coz these are normally always hidden and undisclosed to you in the process of selling the health insurance policy. Group health insurance policies usually have cheaper premiums than individual health insurance policies. You location also matters as each state has different rules and regulations in health insurance coverage.
Choosing Low Health Insurance Premium Quotes
Reader’s Question:
I tried to shop online and found a couple of very low quotes. Should I rely on premium rates in choosing my health insurance policy? I live in Washington DC.
Rachel
Washington, DC
Not really,
Very low health insurance premium rates in Washington DC might be very attractive and tempting at first, but you should watch for is the combination of premium plus your likely spending on health care which is below the deductible. You pay all of the costs below the deductible. So you better ask detailed information like this, which is sometimes not well explained by health insurance agents and can sometimes be misunderstood by health insurance policyholders.
You better add up all of your potential costs under a policy including your deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance, and any other cost-sharing obligations. You don’t want to be one of those who are in big medical debts for being underinsured at the time when serious medical condition comes. Before you purchase one, it is best that you understand what the policy covers and what it doesn’t since most individual policies out there do not offer comprehensive protection.
Your current health status, occupation, and age will always dictate your health insurance requirements. These will also determine your qualification for a health insurance coverage and the premium rate that you will be paying. Bear in mind that in most states, most health insurance companies will consider your current health status, family medical history, age, gender, residence, and type of occupation before they will grant you health insurance coverage.