What is considered a preexisting condition?

A preexisting condition is a medical condition or other health status that a person has before they apply for health insurance or before a specific policy's coverage begins. Preexisting conditions can include both physical and mental health conditions.

Here are some examples of preexisting conditions:

* Physical health conditions:

* Heart disease

* Cancer

* Stroke

* Diabetes

* Obesity

* Asthma

* Chronic pain

* Arthritis

* Back pain

* Mental health conditions:

* Depression

* Anxiety

* Bipolar disorder

* Schizophrenia

* Eating disorders

*Substance use disorders

Insurance companies may consider a condition to be preexisting if it was diagnosed or treated before a certain date, such as the date you applied for health insurance or the date your coverage began. They may also consider a condition to be preexisting if it was not actively being treated at the time you applied for insurance, even if you were aware of it.

It is important to be honest about your preexisting conditions when applying for health insurance. If you do not disclose a preexisting condition, your insurance company may deny coverage for any medical expenses related to that condition.

Some states have laws that protect people with preexisting conditions from being denied health insurance or charged higher premiums. These laws are known as "guaranteed issue" and "community rating" laws.

If you have a preexisting condition, it is important to shop around for health insurance plans that offer affordable coverage for your condition. You may also want to consider purchasing a supplemental health insurance policy to help cover any medical expenses that your primary health insurance plan does not cover.