Pre-existing Conditions

• A pre-existing condition is one existing at the time of the health policy coverage. Most times, pre-existing conditions consist of things such as depression, heart disease and high blood pressure. When an insurance company sees an applicant has a pre-existing condition, the company wants to minimize the risk of payout by imposing certain conditions upon the policy.
  
  

High-Risk Pool

• One of the ways that an individual can get coverage for a pre-existing condition is to get health insurance with a high-risk pool. A high-risk pool means it is likely that the insurance company will have to pay out benefits because the likelihood of a disease being diagnosed or returning is greater than normal insurance pools. Companies that have high-risk pools usually impose a certain period of time before the insurance will cover medical expenses for the condition. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, however, high-risk insurance pools are not effective.
  
  

Group Insurance

• One of the ways for a person to get health insurance for a pre-existing condition is to apply for group coverage. If a person is a member of a professional organization (such as the Writer's Guild or the American Association of Retired Persons), she might be eligible for coverage under the group health care plan offered by the organization. In addition, certain states will allow a person to open her own business and apply for group health care under the business.
  
  

Comparison Shopping

• Just because one company has turned down the application does not mean that all companies will. Different companies have different approval policies. Some insurance companies will take on the risk or they will put in an "elimination clause." The elimination clause covers all medical treatments and expenses other than ones related to the pre-existing condition. Other companies might allow a person to be on probation for a certain length of time before the condition becomes insurable. In addition, every state has an insurance company that is known as the "insurer of last resort." This company might not cover every condition but it usually provides at least catastrophic condition health insurance.