Questions about preexisting conditions are included in every application for health insurance quotes, and it's crucial for applicants to understand what this means and to answer all questions honestly. Preexisting conditions include chronic medical issues that a policyholder received treatment or medications for in the past six months. It also applies to conditions that were clearly present before the time of enrollment. In most cases, preexisting conditions won't prevent individuals from securing coverage. However, it triggers several changes to coverage options, waiting periods and annual premiums. Health insurance companies are in the business of making money, so they offset the cost of insuring high-risk individuals using several strategies.

Most health insurance quotes require answers to explicit questions to identify high-risk applicants with preexisting conditions. Many conditions frequently defined as preexisting affect a large percentage of the population. Common health problems include high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, stroke, Type I and Type II diabetes, obesity, pregnancy and asthma. Informing health insurance companies of preexisting conditions is extremely important. Failure to notify insurers about a preexisting health condition can result in a number of problems for policyholders. During the first 24 months of coverage, companies rigorously review all claims. If a preexisting condition was not reported on the application, insurers may deny claims, cancel policies outright, and file insurance fraud complaints.

After an applicant informs health insurance companies he has a preexisting condition, several things can happen. Insurance companies may choose to issue a policy and cover all treatment anyway, or they may provide coverage for an additional premium that covers the increased cost. Insurers are also free to deny claims for preexisting conditions until a six or 12-month waiting period is satisfied. By law, they may deny coverage for the duration of the policy. Exclusion terms and the length of waiting periods are determined by the policy terms and several state regulations. In some cases, policyholders can select a lesser waiting period by paying slightly higher premiums.

Health insurance companies refuse to insure patients with some preexisting conditions. Insurers issue permanent and conditional refusals. In some situations, patients who successfully treat a preexisting medical condition and no longer require medical care can re-apply for health insurance coverage under a conditional refusal. While most definitions of preexisting conditions include medical issues that were treated in the past six-months, other definitions include health conditions that were clearly present before the time of enrollment. Protocols for handling preexisting conditions are designed to prevent people from securing health insurance after they have developed a condition that requires significant medical care. Notifying insurance companies of all preexisting medical conditions helps prevent cancellations, claim denials, and other issues affecting medical coverage.