Health insurance for preexisting conditions
Prior to the Affordable Care act (ACA), most family and individual health plans in the United States did not cover people with pre-existing medical conditions. In other words, people with health conditions like asthma, high blood pressure or allergies might have to pay more for their health insurance.
This discrimination made it hard for people who had chronic injuries and illnesses to get coverage. In the past, the only option to avoid discrimination was by purchasing a large-group health plan. These plans were available to all employees at companies with more than 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. The plans also had limitations on lifetime benefits. Many of these plans charge very high out-ofpocket expenses for cancer treatments and major medical costs.
Before the ACA, a person with a pre-existing condition could face a waiting period before they could enroll in a new plan. The waiting period can range from six months to one year depending on the plan type and state regulations.
Lori, a 48 year old freelance writer with chronic high blood-pressure that was controlled by two medications. She couldn't get affordable coverage until after she bought her policy and paid her monthly premiums. She was frustrated by the lack of affordable insurance that she could afford and tried to find a way to get more comprehensive health insurance coverage for her.
She finally enrolled into a Medicare Advantage Plan which covered her medications and did not have a waiting time for pre-existing medical conditions. She also paid $2 more per month in order to receive a prescription benefit that would cover her medication.
The ACA has capped the amount that insurers can charge people with preexisting medical conditions, but discrimination against them is still possible. This happens only very rarely. It is because of the ACA, which has capped the amount that insurers are allowed to charge preexisting condition patients. But non-ACA-compliant insurance companies may still discriminate and exclude them from policies or increase their premiums in order to offset the costs.
Coons suggests that the ACA provided preexisting condition protections to the more than 150 million Americans who get their health coverage through their place of employment, but this is not entirely true. HIPAA offered preexisting condition coverage to employees with employer coverage. However, the ACA made that protection available to all those who purchased individual and family health coverage through the ACA's 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. The provisions in the law that protect those with preexisting medical conditions from being denied insurance are some of 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.