By Sean Johnson


In order to get the most out of your health insurance, you will need to compare plans carefully. Still other companies will have caps on the amount of coverage provided. Some companies may exclude those with pre-existing medical conditions, while others may approve them but have pre-existing condition exclusion periods. There are many things to consider before you choose a health insurance provider, however. Although asthma can be an expensive condition, the good news is that many Americans are able to get health insurance coverage.

Unfortunately, some plans limit the amount of coverage for medication and medical treatments, and it is very unlikely that you will be able to receive coverage for preventive care. You may also have to deal with chronic condition limits and pre-existing condition limits. The first, and most important, thing to look for when you need health coverage for your asthma is what the health insurance policy actually covers. You will need to make sure that your plan covers hospital visits as well as routine visits to the doctor.

Also, do not forget HIPAA, the Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which will not allow your condition to be classified as pre-existing if you are switching from a group insurance policy to individual coverage. No matter what you end up doing, you should not encounter too much of a problem obtaining affordable health insurance for yourself and your family even if chronic asthma is in the picture. If your asthma medication goes uncovered for three, six, or twelve months, you can apply for prescription assistance through the pharmacy itself. Remember that Medicaid is available for low-income families and individuals, which will provide medication coverage.

A pre-existing condition limit simply means that if you were diagnosed before you applied for health coverage, you may be excluded from treatment for your condition for a certain period of time. Most plans limit treatment for six to eighteen months, but most employer-provided health plans have a maximum limit of twelve months. State and government plans, such as Medicaid, do not usually have these limits. A chronic condition limit can be a little trickier to deal with. It simply means that conditions that are not expected to improve within a given amount of time will not be covered. Although this does not usually apply to asthma, you should check your policy just to make sure.

The deductible is what you will need to pay on a yearly basis before your health plan starts paying for services. The co-payment refers to what you will need to pay each time you use a service - usually a very small amount. You will need to consider each of these factors to get the most coverage while spending the least amount of money. The cost of your health insurance is another factor to consider. You will need to look at premium rates, co-payments, deductibles, and how much of your treatment you will be expected to cover. The premium is a monthly charge that will stay constant (until renewal, at least) regardless of how many claims you make.




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