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A pre-existing condition is a medical issue that you've had previously prior to getting health insurance. One example of a pre-existing condition is diabetes. In the state of Texas, that would fall under the definition for pre-existing conditions. If you have health insurance in Texas, you may have to wait several months or years before the insurance will pay for claims in regard to that condition.
When you're filling out the application for health insurance, it is required that you include the pre-existing condition. Not including it can subject you to not having additional claims paid or your policy may be cancelled. This stipulation holds true for those that have health insurance in Texas.
While every insurance company is different, your insurer will usually consider your condition to be pre-existing if it was diagnosed or treated before your policy's effective date. If you saw a doctor about it, it can be considered a pre-existing condition and must be divulged. Pre-existing conditions are of special concern for anyone seeking individual health insurance as your insurer will want more information on your medical history and can go back as long as five years to get it. Employer-sponsored and group plans tend to be more lenient and look only at the lat six months of your history. sponsored health insurance plans generally only view the last six months.
It is completely within their rights for a company to deny you health insurance in Texas because of a pre-existing condition. And if a provider chooses to cover you, they may put a rider on your policy to exclude your pre-existing condition from coverage by them. The rider would provide care for all other illnesses and injuries except the one deemed to be pre-existing. Some policies will let the rider expire after a waiting period when the pre-existing condition can be covered. This can take as little as six months or as long sa two years.
People with pre-existing conditions are not the only ones who sometimes have waiting periods for their health insurance in Texas to activate. If there is a situation where everyone is required to wait for coverage, the waiting period regarding pre-existing condition starts on the day the application for insurance was approved. For those who choose an HMO, the waiting period is limited to a maximum of 90 days.
For those who are already insured and just switching to a different health insurance in Texas, the waiting period will usually be shorter. Do not wait more than 60 days to apply for new coverage or your insurance may lapse and you may be required to wait until the next open enrollment period before you can apply for insurance.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, it is vital that you understand the rules that pertain to your health insurance in Texas. You need insurance more than most people and you must be careful to protect yourself and your rights. Read the fine print on your insurance policy carefully and if you must change carriers, be sure that you completely understand their policies about pre-existing medical conditions before you cancel your current insurance, otherwise you could be stuck in the dangerous position of being without insurance.
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