Iowa (IA)
Individual Health Insurance Regulations

Learn more about Iowa Individual Health Insurance

Individual health insurance policies in Iowa may be medically underwritten by the health insurance carriers. For residents with 12 months of prior creditable coverage which meets specified criteria, carriers must guarantee issue standardized policies. Elimination riders are permitted under these policies. Under guarantee issue individual health insurance policies there is a 12 month look back and exclusionary period limit on pre-existing medical conditions. All other individual health insurance policies provide for a 60 month look back and 12 month exclusionary period limit on pre-existing medical conditions. Individual health insurance premium rates in Iowa will vary depending upon the applicant's health status, age, gender and occupation, with limitations placed on how much an individual health insurer can increase your premium based upon your health status.

Request Iowa Individual Health Insurance Quotes from any of our multiple providers.

Iowa (IA)
Small Group Health Insurance Regulations

Iowa health insurance laws provide for group health insurance to be written and offered on a guarantee issue basis. Under this premise, an eligible employee may not be refused health insurance coverage based upon his past or current health history. Employers may request a waiting period from the date of hire prior to allowing qualified employees to enroll in the group plan. Under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, insurance carriers may impose a 6 month look back and a 12 month exclusionary period for pre-existing conditions on all applicants who do not have prior creditable coverage. Premium rates can be determined by the health status of the employees within the group but the rates may not vary by more than plus or minus 25 percent of the indexed rate.

Small business owners can request quotes for Iowa group health insurance from any of our listed providers.

Iowa COBRA and Continuation Coverage

Iowa has a state mandated mini-COBRA program which applies to groups of 2-19 employees. Under the state regulated COBRA program an employee suffering a qualifying event may opt, at their sole expense, to continue their health insurance coverage through their employer-sponsored group health plan. Continuation coverage under state regulations provides for an additional 9 months of coverage. To qualify, an employee must have been insured under the group health plan for at least 3 months prior to the date of termination. Continuations plans are available to persons that have exhausted their COBRA benefits. The state risk pool is another option for HIPAA eligible persons to receive guaranteed issue individual health insurance.

( Chapter 509B, in combination with and Regulation 29 establish regulations for both the continuation and the conversion of group insurance with between 2-19 employees. Those that qualify under these regulations can extend their group coverage for up to 9 months.)