Pre-Existing Conditions in Florida Health Insurance

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