Obamacare: Why Are Pre-existing Conditions So Important?

Before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly known as Obamacare, pre-existing conditions were a sensitive issue. Health insurance companies often discriminated against people with terminal and chronic illnesses or those who required costly treatment due to their condition. In the best cases, many insurers demanded a waiting period before guaranteeing coverage.

People with cancer, diabetes, asthma, arteriosclerosis, depression, or other mental health issues; those injured in an accident; those with Alzheimer’s; or those who had survived a heart attack or stroke were considered to have pre-existing conditions. This often led to skyrocketing insurance premiums or, worse, outright denial of coverage. As a result, thousands of sick Americans lacked necessary medical protection.

One of the requirements that Obamacare imposed on insurance companies to operate in the health market was to remove any mention of pre-existing conditions in contracts. This means insurers cannot deny coverage to a patient with cancer or a history of heart attacks, and policies are priced the same for healthy individuals and those with pre-existing conditions.

Pregnancy, previously considered a pre-existing condition, now allows pregnant women to have a health plan that guarantees coverage for all necessary treatments from the first day of pregnancy until the baby’s birth under the ACA.

Additionally, and importantly, the ACA set an annual out-of-pocket maximum, providing financial stability for individuals who need constant medical care. Regardless of income, if you have an Obamacare plan, you can rest assured that you will only pay up to the maximum set in the contract. Beyond that amount, insurance covers 100% of treatments.

Despite the ACA’s protections, this does not mean pre-existing conditions no longer matter. On the contrary, anyone enrolling in an Obamacare plan should consider their health conditions—such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes—to ensure that the necessary specialists and treatments are included in the health plan’s network.

Don’t miss the opportunity to obtain quality subsidized health insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions. The enrollment period for Obamacare began on November 1 and extends until January 15. Contact now to obtain the coverage that best fits your budget and health.