Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions by health insurance
The Affordable Care Act was enacted by the United States in 2010. Prior to this, most individual and families health plans did not provide coverage for pre-existing diseases. It meant that people who had common health problems such as asthma, high cholesterol or allergies could not get health insurance and would be forced to pay higher rates.
Discrimination against people with chronic conditions and injuries made it more difficult for them to obtain affordable health insurance. The only way to avoid this discrimination in the past was to buy a large group plan, which was available for employees of companies that had 500 or more workers.
The plans are more expensive and do not cover all services that people require, like preventive care or prescription drugs. The plans also had limitations on lifetime benefits. Many of these policies also have high out-ofpocket costs, including for cancer treatment.
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 could vary from six months to a year, depending on the type of plan and state regulations.
Lori is a 48-yearold freelancer who has a chronically high blood BP condition. Her condition was well-controlled with two medications. She couldn't get affordable coverage until after she bought her policy and paid her monthly premiums. She was disappointed by the inability to afford insurance. She searched for ways to increase her coverage.
She enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Plan, which included drug coverage. There was no waiting period. 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 suggests the ACA protected preexisting health conditions for the more 150 million Americans that get their coverage through their employers, but the claim isn't true. 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 Act is an important law that has helped millions of people in the US gain affordable health insurance. The law's provisions that prevent people with preexisting health conditions from being denied coverage are among 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.