How to Switch Health Care Insurance for Preexisting Conditions

Preexisting health conditions may preclude you from obtaining affordable health insurance. If your current health insurance plan does not cover your preexisting condition, cancels your policy or raises your rates due to a preexisting condition, it may be time to look for new health insurance coverage. Private individual health insurance may provide options; but if not, government-sponsored insurance plans will cover you. If you're switching plans, don't cancel your current policy until you have secured a new one.

Instructions

• 1

  Apply for individual health insurance. You can apply directly on the websites of major carriers, such as Aetna, United Healthcare or your regional Blue Cross plan. You can also work with an insurance agent to help you find coverage.

• 2

  Purchase a supplemental rider to cover a preexisting condition not covered under the carrier's regular health insurance plan. For instance, Assurant Health offers riders for maternity care, a preexisting condition not covered through its individual health insurance plans.

• 3

  Apply for your state's high-risk health care insurance. Many states fund insurance plans for people who are denied coverage due to preexisting health conditions. If your state does not offer this, you can obtain coverage under the federally-funded Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, offered under the Affordable Care Act, which went into effect on July 1, 2010. Visit Healthcare.gov or your state's department of insurance website for more information on eligibility and how to apply.

• 4

  Switch to the new plan after getting approval and confirmation of your new coverage's effective date. Make premium payments to the new insurance carrier and obtain a medical identification card and identification number from your new health insurance plan.

• 5

  Stop paying premiums on your current health insurance and inform the carrier that you plan to cancel coverage effective on the date of new coverage. Your existing plan may cancel you anyway due to your preexisting condition or may raise the premium substantially if there have been many high dollar claims submitted for your care.