Best Health Quotes

If you are planning on applying for a health insurance plan and you have any pre-existing conditions, we highly advise you to read this before you randomly choose a plan and start the application process.

When you apply for Illinois health insurance, keep in mind that your present health history is just as important as your driving record when you apply for auto insurance. A medical pre-screen is always a good idea before you apply so you have a relatively accurate idea on what is going to happen when a insurance company medical underwriter reviews your application. Health conditions can trigger some of the following results.

• Your premium could be increased by a designated percentage. This is called a “rate up” or a “load”.
• A “rider” could be applied which would cause your condition not to be covered by the plan. This could be issued for a limited amount of time or even the rider could permanently exclude the condition. These riders are also called exclusions.
• Your application could be declined. This means you would not be able to purchase a plan from this carrier.
• If you apply with the Assurant Health insurance company, you could receive a “condition specific deductible” which is a seperate deductible from the normal plan deductible which is applied to just that pre-existing condition which is by far better than simply excluding the condition all together.
• Depending on the deductible, drug card, premium and other variables of the plan you are applying for, your pre-existing condition may offer no changes in your new policy at all and your policy could be approved with a standard rating with no increase in premium.

A medical pre-screen can save you a lot of time and eliminate the question of  what will be the end result of your application  endeavor. We find that people land on a health insurance website and without consulting an experience agent, will in many cases apply with Blue Cross/Blue Shield which happens to be the most stringent of all underwriters. This is fine and dandy if you are very healthy, but if you have a history of medical conditions, you could very easily find yourself declined or issued a policy loaded with exclusions. If you are declined, this information will end up on an MIB (Medical Information Bureau) report for all the other insurers to see. If you have to re-apply with another carrier, you will definately be starting out on the wrong foot. The pre-screen will take these main questions into effect.

• Height vs. Weight
• Drugs used on a cronic basis
• Medical conditions & when first diagnosed
• Inpatient or outpatient hospital stays
• Use of tobacco products
• Injuries from accidents
• Your current age
• The state you reside

The timeline for these questions will normally date back to the last 5-10 years of your health history depending on the condition itself. Our office routinely run pre-screens for our perspective clients at no charge or obligation.