How Your Past Can Affect Health Insurance Approval

A Grandfathered Plan Can Deny Coverage Based On Pre-Existing Conditions

A plan purchased in America before March 2010 is grandfathered in under the Affordable Care Act. That is, someone can still be denied for a renewal of this plan if they have a pre-existing condition. Any new conditions will usually result in a rise in the premiums, not a denial.

Americans have been denied renewals from grandfathered plans; if these people wanted to apply for a new plan, they could not be denied based on pre-existing conditions. However, their premiums will likely be much higher under their new insurance plan.

Previous And Present Risky Habits

Applicants with a history of medically risky behavior, such as smoking or drinking, may be denied health insurance. Smoking and drinking are not considered to be pre-existing conditions, and as such are not covered under the provision of Obamacare that prevents insurers from denying someone due to a pre-existing condition. An applicant with lung cancer as a result of smoking or cirrhosis from drinking cannot be denied based on their medical conditions, but they could be denied based on their behavior. Some health insurance advocates have made the case that people should not be denied for risky behaviors, but this is not currently the applicable law.