Marketplace health plans cover pre-existing conditions (2024)

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Coverage for pre-existing conditions

All Marketplace plans must cover treatment for pre-existing medical conditions.

  • No insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any condition you had before your coverage started.
  • Once you’re enrolled, the plan can’t deny you coverage or raise your rates based only on your health.
  • Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) also can't refuse to cover you or charge you more because of your pre-existing condition.

Pregnancy is covered from the day your plan starts

  • If you’re pregnant when you apply, an insurance plan can’t reject you or charge you more because of your pregnancy.
  • Once you’re enrolled, your pregnancy and childbirth are covered from the day your plan starts.
    • If you give birth or adopt after enrolling in your Marketplace plan for the year:
      • Your child’s birth or adoption qualifies you for a

        A time outside the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including losing health coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child, or if your household income is below a certain amount.

        Refer to glossary for more details.

        . This means you can enroll in or change plans outside the annual Open Enrollment Period.
      • Your coverage can start from the date of birth or adoption, even if you enroll up to 60 days afterward.

Exception: grandfathered plans don’t have to cover pre-existing conditions

An individual health insurance policy purchased on or before March 23, 2010. These plans weren’t sold through the Marketplace, but by insurance companies, agents, or brokers. They may not include some rights and protections provided under the Affordable Care Act.

Refer to glossary for more details.

don’t have to cover pre-existing conditions or preventive care. If you have a grandfathered plan and want pre-existing conditions covered, you have 2 options:

  • You can switch to a Marketplace plan that will cover them during Open Enrollment.
  • You can buy a Marketplace plan outside Open Enrollment when your grandfathered plan year ends, and you’ll qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

Learn more about grandfathered plans and what to do when your plan is changed or cancelled.

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Marketplace health plans cover pre-existing conditions (2024)

FAQs

Marketplace health plans cover pre-existing conditions? ›

All Marketplace plans must cover treatment for pre-existing medical conditions. No insurance plan can reject you, charge you more, or refuse to pay for essential health benefits

essential health benefits
A set of 10 categories of services health insurance plans must cover under the Affordable Care Act. These include doctors' services, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, prescription drug coverage, pregnancy and childbirth, mental health services, and more.
https://www.healthcare.gov › glossary › essential-health-benefits
for any condition you had before your coverage started.

Can marketplace plans charge you more if you have a pre-existing condition? ›

No. Marketplace health plans are not allowed to charge you more based on your health status or pre-existing condition. However, some plans, such as short-term policies, that are sold off the Marketplace might turn you down or charge you more based on your health status or pre-existing condition.

Can Obamacare deny pre-existing conditions? ›

Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can't refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a “pre-existing condition” — that is, a health problem you had before the date that new health coverage starts.

Can people with preexisting conditions worry less about health insurance coverage due to the Affordable Care Act? ›

Firstly, thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurers can no longer deny coverage or charge higher premiums based solely on pre-existing conditions. This has dramatically increased access to health insurance for individuals with chronic health issues.

What is the exclusion period for pre-existing conditions? ›

The time period during which a health plan won't pay for care relating to a pre-existing condition. Under a job-based plan, this cannot exceed 12 months for a regular enrollee or 18 months for a late-enrollee.

Can I be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition? ›

Is there health insurance for pre-existing conditions? Choosing a health plan is no longer based on the concept of a pre-existing condition. A health insurer cannot deny you coverage or raise rates for plans if you have a medical condition at the time of enrollment.

What qualifies as a pre-existing condition? ›

An illness or injury experienced before enrollment in a health insurance plan may be considered a pre-existing condition. Pre-existing conditions can include health issues such as cancer, diabetes, lupus, depression, acne, pregnancy, or just about any other health condition you can imagine.

What counts as pre-existing medical conditions? ›

What are pre-existing medical conditions? A pre-existing medical condition (PEMC) is an illness or injury you had before your policy began or was renewed. Examples of pre-existing medical conditions include, diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol or a long-term back condition.

Can UnitedHealthcare deny coverage for pre-existing conditions? ›

You cannot be denied coverage based on preexisting conditions.

What is the denial code for pre-existing conditions? ›

Denial code 51 is used to indicate that the services being billed for are not covered by the insurance provider because they are related to a pre-existing condition.

When were pre-existing conditions eliminated? ›

The Affordable Care Act (ACA or “Obamacare”) prohibited pre-existing condition exclusions for all plans beginning January 2014, which was great news for all insurance beneficiaries with pre-existing conditions.

Why do people with pre-existing medical conditions have to pay higher premiums? ›

Cost Estimation: Calculating the cost of potential medical treatment for people with pre-existing conditions is more complicated, which can lead to higher premiums for all members.

Is high blood pressure a pre-existing condition? ›

Pre-existing diseases or PED is a kind of chronic or long-term medical condition which already exists at the time when one buys a health insurance. The most common examples of pre-existing diseases are: High blood pressure.

How far back is a pre-existing condition? ›

A pre-existing medical condition is a disease, illness or injury for which you have received medication, advice or treatment or had any symptoms (whether the condition has been diagnosed or not) in the five years before your joining date. Health insurance doesn't usually cover 'pre-existing conditions'.

What if pre-existing conditions are not declared? ›

Failure to disclose pre-existing conditions not only jeopardizes the chances of successful claims but may also lead to the cancellation of the policy in extreme cases.

What is a waiver of pre-existing conditions? ›

Simply put, the Waiver of Pre-Existing Medical Conditions covers, or “waives” the companies right to exclude pre-existing medical conditions from their policy. It's a feature only available with certain comprehensive package plans that include trip cancellation/trip interruption.

Is insurance more expensive if you have a pre-existing condition? ›

Health insurers can no longer charge more or deny coverage to you or your child because of a pre-existing health condition like asthma, diabetes, or cancer, as well as pregnancy. They cannot limit benefits for that condition either.

Under what circ*mstances may a health insurer charge a higher premium? ›

Over time, enrollees' health may deteriorate from what it was at the time of application, leading to higher claims costs. To offset this, insurers in the individual market will often charge higher premiums to individuals who have been enrolled in the same plan for several years.

Can you switch Medicare plans if you have a pre-existing condition? ›

You can switch if an insurer is willing to sell you a new Medigap policy. If you have the right to switch, you may have to wait up to 6 months before any new benefits or your pre-existing condition will be covered.

What causes health insurance premiums to increase? ›

How insurance companies set health premiums. Five factors can affect a plan's monthly premium: location, age, tobacco use, plan category, and whether the plan covers dependents.

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