The purpose of health insurance policies is to help offset the high costs of medical treatments and medications that so many people need in order to stay healthy or manage a health condition. Of course, the main aim of health insurance companies is to make a profit while providing this insurance. In order to make the most money, insurance companies assess the risk imposed by each applicant. One of the factors they take into consideration is the health status of the applicant. They use medical questionnaires to gauge the risk and determine if there is a chronic illness or other health issue present.

A chronic illness is a disease or health problem that requires constant care and treatment over the course of a person's lifetime. Diabetes, heart conditions, arthritis, and obesity are all considered to fall under this category. When a person suffers from such a condition, they often require regular visits to physicians and specialists as well as daily medications that can be very expensive. If a person has a chronic illness when they apply for a health insurance policy, they may have to pay higher premiums or they may be denied a policy completely. This is because the insurance company deems them to be a high risk and the chances of paying out a claim will be higher.

However, some people develop chronic illnesses well after they already have a health insurance policy in place. This means that insurance companies will pay out a lot of money in medical claims to treat the condition. In order to prevent or at least reduce the number of cases of chronic illnesses, insurance companies have recently shifted their focus to providing preventative medicine and wellness initiatives. It makes more sense to both the insurance company and the patient to try to prevent a condition from developing rather than allow it to raise and spend more money on treatments and prescriptions.

Once a chronic illness has developed, an individual may find it increasingly difficult to apply for more additional health insurance policies or to increase the limits on the existing policy. If the policy is allowed to lapse and the policy holder wants to re-instate it or apply for a new one, there may be limitations, exclusions, or waiting periods imposed.

Health insurance policies must be affordable and provide treatment for existing chronic conditions and help prevent further progression. Without these options, there will be more people uninsured and unable to pay for much needed treatments and medications. Obtaining several health insurance quotes will help offer different choices that best suit the needs of an individual who has a chronic illness or runs a risk of developing one later in life.