Starting in 2014, health insurance plans can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more just because you have a pre-existing health condition.
Being sick doesn’t keep you from getting coverage
Starting in 2014, being sick won’t keep you from getting health coverage. An insurance company can’t turn you down or charge you more because of your condition. It can’t refuse to cover treatment for pre-existing conditions.
This is true even if you have been turned down or refused coverage due to a pre-existing condition in the past.
The only exception is for grandfathered individual health insurance plans–the kind you buy yourself, not through an employer. If you have one of these plans you can switch to a Marketplace plan during open enrollment and get coverage for your pre-existing condition.
You can apply for Health Insurance Marketplace insurance when open enrollment starts on October 1, 2013. Coverage starts as soon as January 1, 2014.
Be sure not to miss open enrollment
Open enrollment ends on March 31, 2014. Outside of open enrollment, you can’t enroll in Marketplace coverage unless you have a qualifying life event.
Find out what you can do now to get ready to enroll.
Pre-existing conditions with Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program(CHIP) also can’t refuse to cover you or charge you more because of a health condition.