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Children, Pre-Existing Conditions and Affordable Health Insurance
When parents find out their children have a chronic illness, the news can be crushing. Unfortunately, to add more salt to the wound, many health insurance plans purposely omit coverage for chronic conditions.
Parents with children who have chronic conditions know all too well how difficult it can be to find affordable health insurance for their families. Many plans would not cover pre-existing conditions like asthma or diabetes, leaving parents with hefty medical bills when their children need treatment or hospitalization.
It doesn't seem right, does it? That is why children with pre-existing conditions are an important part of healthcare reform, ensuring the kids who need affordable health insurance most are the ones who can get it.
What the Provision Says
On September 23, 2010, insurance companies were no longer able to deny affordable health insurance to kids under the age of 19 simply because they had a pre-existing condition. This new rule applies to all employer-based health plans, as well as individual health insurance policies offered after March 23, 2010.
The rule goes into effect as soon as current plans renew, which typically takes place at the beginning of the following year. This means that by January 1, 2011, kids with pre-existing conditions will finally be guaranteed the insurance coverage they need, no matter what their current health status might be.
Benefits for Kids
Healthcare reform offers many benefits to kids and adults with pre-existing condition, including:
• No more denial of coverage or use of pre-existing condition clauses that prevent families from getting the medical care they need for their children
• Lifetime limits on insurance policies are lifted, so families can seek necessary treatment for their children without worry over how much it will cost
• Annual limits on insurance coverage will be regulated by the federal government and lifted completely by 2014
• Rules against rescinding affordable health insurance for arbitrary reasons like a sudden illness or a minor administrative error
• By 2014, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to charge higher premiums to any member with a pre-existing condition
All of these changes should be good news to parents of a chronically ill child. Now, parents will be able to focus on caring for their child's condition, rather than worrying about how to pay for it.
A Few Details
There are a few details about the pre-existing condition provisions in the healthcare reform that you should know about:
• The rule regarding affordable health insurance applies whether your child's health condition was diagnosed or treated before you applied for insurance coverage
• The protections will be expanded to encompass all Americans with pre-existing conditions by 2014
• Some affordable health insurance may be grandfathered, meaning the new rule will not apply to policies purchased prior to March 23, 2010
Who needs affordable health insurance most? Many Americans would say it isn't the healthy, but the sick that need the most protection. Unfortunately, those are the exact individuals who have been consistently denied coverage or forced to pay astronomical premiums in the past.
The good news is that healthcare reform is changing it all. Today, children with pre-existing conditions now have access to affordable health insurance that will help them get the high quality medical care they need to stay healthy and happy throughout life.
Visit the InsureMonkey homepage to start a health insurance quote.
