Pre-existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions are medical conditions or diseases that existed before a health insurance policy was issued. Some policies will not cover pre-existing conditions at all; other policies will cover pre-existing conditions only after one year, two years, or some other time period. Minor pre-existing conditions are often covered right away. Those who write insurance policies often view pre-existing conditions as a risk factor, particularly if those conditions may require expensive treatment anytime in the future. Common examples of such risky conditions are diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and immune disorders. There are health insurance policies made specifically for people with a lot of pre-existing conditions; however, the premiums are expensive and coverage is issued to whole groups rather than one person.