| Pre-existing conditions in Florida health | | | | solely at the discretion of the underwriting |
| insurance is an area of health insurance that | | | | department of the health insurance company. |
| seems to suffer from a murky cloud of | | | | Of course, common sense would tell us that a |
| confusion. What is a pre-existing condition? | | | | pre-existing condition of cancer will be |
| How are pre-existing conditions handled in | | | | treated much differently than a pre-existing |
| Florida? Are there differences in how | | | | condition of the tendency to develop a cold: |
| pre-existing conditions are handled depending | | | | just as Diabetes will be treated much |
| on whether it is a Florida group health | | | | differently from hay fever. |
| insurance plan or a Florida individual health | | | | |
| insurance plan? All of these are valid | | | | There are probably 3 main general groupings |
| questions concerning pre-existing conditions | | | | of pre-existing conditions in the state of |
| and their effect on obtaining health | | | | Florida when it comes to individual health |
| insurance coverage in the state of Florida. | | | | insurance. There are the pre-existing |
| | | | conditions that will signal an automatic |
| The obvious first question is, "What is | | | | decline by the health insurance company such |
| considered a pre-existing condition in | | | | as diabetes, cancer, extreme obesity, and |
| Florida?" Typically, most health insurance | | | | rheumatoid arthritis (only a few examples), |
| companies in Florida will look at an | | | | those that will prompt the insurance company |
| applicant's health history going back as far | | | | to either not cover the particular |
| as 10 years to determine an applicant's | | | | pre-existing condition (exclude that specific |
| health status (in the case of an application | | | | condition but cover everything else - a |
| for individual health insurance; group health | | | | "rider") or charge an additional premium |
| insurance in Florida will not levy quite as | | | | ("rate - up" or rate increase) such as asthma |
| much scrutiny towards a pre-existing | | | | allergies, back disorders, and high |
| condition). Therefore, in the strictest type | | | | cholesterol (only a few examples), and then |
| of scenario; any adverse medical conditions | | | | there are those pre-existing conditions that |
| or medical issues within the 10 years prior | | | | present a risk so minor that the health |
| to the application being submitted is | | | | insurance company will cover everything and |
| considered a pre-existing condition. (This is | | | | not charge an additional premium (such as |
| not the case for all areas of pre-existing | | | | infections, disorders, or surgeries where |
| conditions as in the case of certain | | | | there has been a Doctor certified 100% |
| conditions the health insurance company is | | | | recovery, common cold, common childhood |
| only concerned with say high cholesterol | | | | ailments, etc) (again, only a few possible |
| [just an example] or nicotine use [just an | | | | examples). |
| example] in the past 5 years or 2 years | | | | |
| rather than the full 10 years). Generally | | | | The important thing to do if you have a |
| speaking, any type of medical condition or | | | | serious pre-existing condition and have |
| issue that happened further back than 10 | | | | health insurance is to NOT cancel your health |
| years ago does not exist for the sake of the | | | | insurance coverage! There may still be other |
| Florida health insurance application. | | | | options available to you such as a HIPAA |
| | | | guaranteed issue plan (cannot be declined due |
| The obvious follow up question is, "How are | | | | to pre-existing conditions) or a group health |
| these pre-existing conditions handled by the | | | | insurance plan. There are a number of |
| health insurance company that one is applying | | | | criteria that you must meet in order to be |
| with?" The classic attorney answer happens to | | | | eligible under HIPAA. Consult with a |
| fit in this instance, "That depends." The way | | | | knowledgeable Florida independent health |
| that a specific pre-existing condition is | | | | insurance agent that will be able to assist |
| handled in an application for individual | | | | you in finding appropriate Florida health |
| health insurance in the state of Florida is | | | | insurance coverage. |