A Quick Introduction To California Health Insurance And Pre-existing Conditions, Waiting Periods, And Exclusions
It’s important to look at a carrier’s policies and restrictions regarding pre-existing conditions, waiting periods and exclusions as they can differ from company to company. This is just an overview in layman’s terms.
First…what is a pre-existing condition. The official definition reads as follows:
Pre-existing Condition
Any illness or health condition for which you have received medical advice or treatment during the six months prior to obtaining health insurance. Group healthcare policies cover pre-existing conditions after you have been insured for six months, and individual policies cover pre-existing conditions after you have been insured for one year. Reference CIC Section 10198.7. Creditable coverage must be counted towards any pre-existing condition exclusion in either an individual or group policy.
Essentially, it is a medical condition, illness, or injury for which you just had treatment, are undergoing treatment, or have had treatment in the past. The context in which an insurance company will look...