Medical Coverage Coming for Sick Americans
May 2011
Americans who have been denied
medical coverage due to pre-existing conditions are celebrating today, as U.S. health officials announced a reduction in premiums and an easing of standards to allow more of them to get health insurance.
Typically,
individual health insurance has been the most difficult to get, almost impossibly so for those with pre-existing conditions. Group health insurance offered through employers didn't feature the same stringent rules of application, and since businesses paid a significant portion of health fees for their employees few workers realized how much their health care really cost.
But for those who must buy Individual health insurance the market isn't very forgiving. Premiums are higher, as are deductibles, and it can be very difficult to qualify. For those with conditions like diabetes and cancer, there may be no medical coverage at all.
Under the
Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan medical coverage for those with a condition can drop as much as 40%, depending on your state. Implemented as part of the Affordable Care Plan passed last year, its goal is to provide medical coverage to the many Americans whose health has suffered due to a lack of insurance.
Facts on:
Medical Coverage Plans
Did you know...
Premiums for individual health insurance for pre-existing conditions will drop 40% for some states?
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Applying for the plan will be easier as well. No longer will you need a letter from your insurance company stating that you were denied coverage. Instead, applicants will need a letter from a doctor or nurse that outlines their medical condition. Applicants will also be expected to prove that they have been without coverage for at least 6 full months.
Unfortunately not all states will see such a decrease in fees. In the 23 states where the federal government oversees the program the greatest reductions in premiums will take place. Another 18 states have accepted federal funds for the same plan.
Those states that don't rely on federal funds or federal oversight (9 states) won't be able to offer lower prices on individual health insurance costs for Americans with pre-existing conditions.
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