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Originally Posted by PCOSurvivor  How do you find out if pre-existing conditions can cause you to lose insurance or be denied? |
One more quick comment I want to make -- you don't usually
lose insurance for a preexisting condition. Preexisting conditions is the term insurance companies use as a justification for denying coverage in one of two ways. Insurance companies will deny any coverage for a person with a preexisting condition, meaning they have no health insurance -- usually you're talking about people with serious conditions like a heart condition. The justification for this is that the condition is so grave and can cause so many other problems that it's not worth it to the insurance company to cover them. PCOS might be seen this way.
The second way that preexisting conditions come into play, is that an insurance company will deny coverage to an applicant for the condition itself or any related treatment. What that means is if for example I apply for health insurance while I have a broken leg (which was broken before I applied) the insurance won't cover dr's visits, Rx's, or any treatment for my broken leg. Anything else they'll cover. What makes this complicated is that not everything heals like a broken leg. PCOS for example, is a lifelong thing. In this case what usually happens is that the insurance company will deny coverage for the preexisting condition for a particular length of time, say 6-12 months (it varies), meaning you have to pay for any treatment during that length of time out of pocket. But after that time period is done, the condition is covered.
So, if you have changed insurance after you were diagnosed you probably were considered to have a preexisting condition. However, if you haven't sought treatment for that condition for a couple years, then your insurance company will most likely cover treatment. The best way to find out is to call your insurance company. Honestly, it's so much better to stay in touch with your insurance company and know what they cover and what they don't, then to not seek treatment. In my experience I get a lot better treatment by the insurance company and my doctors' offices the better I know how my insurance works. It's a bit like knowing enough about cars to know when I'm getting taken by my mechanic.