Question: Why do you have to wait to go see the doctor for 1 year if you have a preexisting condition, especially when you are currently paying $200 a month for insurance that you can’t even use?
From: Leslie BB of Rantoul, Il

Answer: A pre-existing condition is any medical condition diagnosed or treated before you join a new health plan. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) limits a health plan from denying payment for care for a pre-existing condition. Previously, a health plan required a waiting period for pre-existing conditions for new members (e.g., 1 year). Obviously, this could have a detrimental impact on the member’s health and lead to high financial burden for the member. Under HIPAA, if you have been insured for 12 uninterrupted months before joining the new plan, no waiting period is required for the pre-existing condition.