Why do I need to disclose my previous health insurance company?
The new insurance company may also use information about your prior health insurance company for investigative purposes. That insurance company may report claims to the Medical Information Bureau, which would be easy to cross-reference for your new insurance company. 1 CommentLeave a comment |
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Why do I need to disclose my previous health insurance company?
When completing your application for new health insurance coverage you will be asked to provide information pertaining to your last active health plan. You may also be asked to include information on other medical insurance if you have been insured by more than one company over the past 18 months. The reason that the insurance company wants this information is so that they can provide proper credit toward any pre-existing medical condition exclusionary period. Most states require that your insurance company recognize creditable coverage for pre-existing medical condition exclusionary periods. The insurance company may also offer guaranteed issue plans to persons that are HIPAA eligible. If you have had continuous prior medical insurance coverage for at least 18 months, and the most recent coverage was under a group health plan, you may be eligible for guaranteed issue coverage. This may prove important if the insurance company with whom you are applying declines your application based on your health status. They will not automatically place you on their HIPAA coverage because the premiums will be higher and they will contact you to inform you of your options. Because your prior health insurance may qualify you for other health plan options, it is important to provide as much information as you can about your prior coverage. Make sure to include the address and phone number of your prior insurance company, the policy number and the type of coverage that you had (individual, short-term, student, group, Medicaid, etc).
Hi, I am a 30 year old female living in Illinois who very much needs to find health insurance fast. I have already tried to get coverage and have checked some of the websites that offer a free health insurance quote, but I fear that I will not get accepted if I apply with them. I have had continuous health insurance until almost 2 years ago when I quit my job and then went on COBRA. Now my COBRA insurance is running out and I don’t know what to do. I have a history of a medical condition called hypertension and I am pretty sure that most companies, if not all, will decline to cover me because of this. My COBRA will run out in a few months and I am getting a little worried about what will happen, what do you advice me to do?
Comment by Kelly — June 27, 2009 @ 8:38 am