Pre-existing condition

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Pre-existing condition is a term used in the medical insurance industry to describe any health condition that a person had before the start of an insurance coverage. These conditions can range from chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease, to conditions like pregnancy or a previous surgery.

Definition[edit | edit source]

A pre-existing condition is defined as any health condition for which a person has received medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment before enrollment in a new health plan. This can include both physical and mental health conditions.

Impact on Insurance Coverage[edit | edit source]

In many countries, insurance companies can refuse to cover treatment for pre-existing conditions, or charge higher premiums. This can make it difficult for people with such conditions to get affordable health care. However, laws vary widely from country to country. In the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more because of a pre-existing condition.

Examples of Pre-existing Conditions[edit | edit source]

Examples of pre-existing conditions can include, but are not limited to:

See Also[edit | edit source]

Pre-existing condition Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD