We Need Coverage Now, Not In a Year

Millions of American children suffer from what insurance companies call, "Pre-Existing Conditions". For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, a pre-existing health condition is simply a health issue you have before applying for and insurance policy.

For insurance companies, unless you are in absolutely perfect health, they will pick you apart and diagnose you with a pre-existing health condition and jack up the price for your insurance policy. If you are a little overweight, have bad hearing, bad vision, or if you drink alcohol, these insurance devils can and will jack up prices on your policy. I would even go as far as saying if you have a bald spot they would dictate that as being a pre-existing health condition.

According to Healthreform.gov, A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults. 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years

Either way, Americans with these types of conditions need coverage. Up until this new bill has been passed, insurance companies could simply deny you coverage if they felt you were too "high risk". Thanks to the new bill, everyone, including people with pre-existing conditions, will be covered no matter what. But don't get too excited now.

Anyone with pre-existing health conditions must wait to be covered. According to CSMonitor.com, although the new health care bill outlaws denial of coverage to those with pre-existing conditions, this change won't take full effect for years.

Although the bill was just put into effect, children with pre-existing conditions will not be covered by their families policy for another 6 months. But, there is a back-up plan. Albeit a temporary back-up plan,

• U.S. citizens
• Legal Immigrants
• Who have been uninsured for over 6 months
• Have pre-existing health conditions
  

...will be put into a "high-risk insurance pool" and receive subsidies so they can afford to pay for the insurance companies premiums.

Although citizens with pre-existing health conditions may not receive full coverage for years, this Plan B is definitely a step in the right direction.