UNDERSTANDING INSURANCE - MANAGING INSURANCE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

About the Resource Library

This page contains dozens of short articles that will help you quickly understand international insurance. For example, terminology, purchasing details and managing your insurance coverage are topics that are all covered within these articles. Choose an Article From the Topics Below

MANAGING INSURANCE

The first precaution when purchasing insurance and thinking about your pre-existing conditions is to read the “small print” in the exclusion section of the policy brochure. If your pre-existing condition is “totally” eliminated from any coverage, it will be listed there.

It is important to remember that there are almost no short-term plans that will provide coverage for pre-existing conditions. Because of this the rates on these short-term plans are generally very cost-effective.

If you plan to purchase a long-term policy study their pre-existing condition definition. Here is one we have taken from a company brochure.

A pre-existing condition is defined as an injury or illness which was contracted or which first manifested itself; or for which manifestations of symptoms would have caused a prudent person to seek medical advice or treatment; or for which a licensed physician was consulted; or for which treatment or medication was prescribed within the five years prior to the effective date of the insured person's coverage.

Some definitions will limit their look back to various time periods, from 6 months to 60 months.

Some long term plans put riders on pre-existing conditions while other will rate up the monthly premium and still provide coverage. Of course some companies will put permanent riders on specific pre-existing conditions that exclude the pre-existing condition from coverage as long as you are on the policy.

The good news is that some short-term plans provide limited coverage for “unexpected recurrences of a pre-existing condition.” This means that if you broke your leg three years ago and everything has been fine and all of a sudden you start having problems with your leg, their would be limited insurance coverage for that pre-existing condition.

For other articles on pre-existing conditions: http://gninsurance.com/undinsurance.asp