Companies can deny coverage for prior ills, but it doesn’t increase number of insured
A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation says states that allow insurance companies to limit eligibility or increase premiums due to a person’s health history contribute to an increase in the number of uninsured. In 2004, Indiana passed a law allowing insurers to deny coverage due to pre-existing conditions, promoting that law as a measure to help decrease the number of uninsured. But the number of uninsured in the state has not decreased, and the rising costs of healthcare have contributed to the insurance problem, as even those who qualify cannot always afford to pay for coverage.
The article quotes Karen Pollitz, project director at Georgetown University’s Health Policy Institute, as saying:
“It’s a really difficult market for everybody. It’s like an onion; there are all sorts of layers of difficulties. If one of the difficulties doesn’t trip you up, another one will.”
Read the full article online at Indystar.com: Health insurance law misses goals (Feb. 27, 2008).
Are you in Indiana and wondering what options you have to get health insurance? Our free online guide can help you make an informed choice: Guide to Getting and Keeping Health Insurance in Indiana (last updated January 2006).