How Your Past Can Affect Health Insurance Approval

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.