Preview

Pre-Existing-Conditions

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
5141 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Pre-Existing-Conditions
Pre-Existing Conditions

By

Submitted to the Division of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
MBA 512: Health Policy and Law

Shepherd University

April 13, 2010

Abstract Imagine paying $500, $600, $700, or $1,000 monthly for health care insurance only to realize these payments were for naught. The health care insurance provider that received these monthly installments has decided whatever is ailing you will not be covered due to a pre-existing medical condition. What if you couldn’t have the luxury of health care insurance at all due to the basis the health care insurance provider has concluded you have a pre-existing medical condition? These are the dilemmas facing millions of Americans today in the current health care system. America’s health insurance companies exist to make a profit and not for the general well being of the persons they insure. To achieve a profit the health insurance companies must deny coverage claims when Americans need coverage the most or not cover these individuals in the first place. This is a problem that the United States is addressing, or trying to address, in heated debate on Capitol Hill. Many of our Republican politicians want to continue with the status quo of the health care system while Democrats seek to eliminate pre-existing conditions altogether. The American public has come to recognize there has to be a major overhaul of the current health care system starting with pre-existing conditions.

Pre-Existing Conditions Defined

The University of Pittsburg Medical Center defines a pre-existing condition as (University of Pittsburg Medical Center, 2011), “A medical condition that occurred before a program of health benefits went into effect”. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2011) breaks down further what exactly the definitions for health insurance companies are varied by state. Their define the breakdown as “some states use an objective



References: American Medical Association (2011). AMA.com. Retrieved from http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups- sections/resident-fellow-section/advocacy-policy/policy-success.page American Psychiatric Association (2009) http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/164594.php Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (2011) http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=5&sub=72 Boehner, J (2011) http://www.johnboehner.com/?p=234 Girion, L (2007) Grim, R (2009). The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/insurance-companies-rape-_n_328708.html HealthCare.gov 1 (2011) http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html HealthCare.gov 2 (2011) http://www.healthcare.gov/news/blog/preexistingcondition.html Hizelrath, D (2009) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/09/18/AR2009091803501.html Huckabee, M (2010) http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/09/huckabee-opposes-insurance-for-people-with-pre-existing-conditions.php House.gov (2011) http://rules-republicans.house.gov/Media/PDF/HR__-Repeal.pdf Ivory, D (2009) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/insurance-companies-rape-n_328708.html Jindal, B (2009) http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/02/25/louisiana-gov-bobby-jindal-a-pre-existing-condition/ Kaiser Family Foundation (2011) http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparetable.jsp?typ=5&ind=355&cat=7&sub=87&sortc=2&o=a Kaiser Family Foundation Poll (2009) http://www.kff.org/kaiserpolls/upload/7990.pdf Maine Medical Association (2010) http://www.mainemed.com/legislation/testimony/ld1620_MacLean.pdf National Patient Advocate Foundation (2009) NMSA Commission on Governmental Affairs (2007). Nevada State Medical Association. Retrieved from http://www.nsmadocs.org/pdf/Leg%20Strategy_Comments.pdf North Dakota Medical Association (2010). Ndmed. Retrieved from mabu-ndmed.taopowered.net/image/cache/Op_Ed_10-09.pdf Obama, B (2009). Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved from http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2009/06/obamas_ama_speech_as_delivered.html Pelosi, N (2011) House.gov. Retrieved from http://pelosi.house.gov/special-issues/women.shtml Reid, H (2010). MSNBC. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35585513/ns/politics/ Sebelius, K (2011). Department of Health and human Resources. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110118a.html Slaughter, L (2010). MSNBC Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35585513/ns/politics/ Sorian, R (2011). HealthCare.gov. Retrieved from http://www.healthcare.gov/news/blog/preexisting.html Texas Medical Association (2009). texmed.org. Retrieved from http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=7899 University of Pittsburg Medical Center (2011). Retrieved from http://www.upmc.com/HOSPITALSFACILITIES/FINANCIAL- SERVICES/Pages/billing-terminology.aspx Wing, N (2011)

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Many problems involving the U.S health care system includes health insurance companies not being able to cover everything that needs to be covered. In the movie Sicko, Michael Moore examines the difficulties shown in our U.S healthcare system. It points out that about 15% of American are uninsured and about 18,000 Americans die each year due to inadequate screening or care (2007). The U.S disastrous health care system is an issue that should be first priority. The current issues presented in the Sick in America video shows that the comprehensive health care system is not affordable for everyone. Despite having health insurance, there is always something that will cause a blockage.…

    • 349 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The most significant effect that the ACA has on assessing affordable health insurance is the elimination of screening consumers’ pre-existing conditions. In the past, individuals were denied…

    • 521 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The article focuses on several possible proposals for health care reform by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama which are perceived to produce unfavorable results. Such proposals include requiring employers to provide employees with health insurance, requiring each citizen to purchase an insurance policy that complies with government criteria and establishing a health insurance plan that would compete with private insurance. The author argues that such proposals would negatively affect taxpayers, health care providers and quality of care.…

    • 4590 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The policies of affordable health care act affect many different populations in various ways. Making the health coverage mandatory to everyone was the biggest change that everyone had to face. Many individuals were not happy because they were required to have health coverage, and some of the US population felt that their freedom of choice was violated by this act. However, the group that benefited the most was the individuals with pre-existing conditions. Prior to affordable health care act the health insurance companies usually turned down this group’s applications, or they were forced to pay extra capital for their coverage. However, with Obama care’s new policies, individuals with pre-existing conditions will have full coverage and will…

    • 342 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    anessa N. Gamble and Deborah Stone. “U.S. Policy on Health Inequities: the Interplay of Politics and Research,” Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law 31, (2006): 93-126.…

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Affordable Care Act Essay

    • 769 Words
    • 4 Pages

    America’s healthcare industry shows us one of the most revealing contradictions in the country’s economy. Even though America claims itself to be the world’s most advanced superpower, it is still unable to provide its entire population with healthcare. “Obamacare” is affordable for everyone based in their incomes, but there are still too many people without health insurance. The problem is that Democrats and Republicans do not compromise with each other to build on a good health care program, so that additional steps can be taken to moderate it. They do not want to accept the others’ ideas. When Obama came out with the Affordable Care Act program Republicans were not trying to work with him. For example, in the “Should the Affordable Care Act be…

    • 769 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In my opinion, the most challenging issues in healthcare today are the rising costs of health insurance premiums that do not cover much or have high deductibles that are too high for many people to pay. While it is wonderful that millions of people, who were uninsured or had pre-existing conditions, gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act, it is not wonderful that health insurance has become unaffordable for millions of other people. According to the New York Times, an estimated 28 million Americans remain uninsured and preliminary data shows that about 5.6 million people opted to pay a tax penalty rather than buy health insurance in 2015. In addition, in 2017, health care premiums rose by 25% across the nation. The…

    • 384 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Kaiser Family Foundation (2017) relied upon an analysis of census-driven data to understand the types of insurance coverage available and how each type corresponded to different sub-populations and socioeconomic groups. But while the organization`s analysis utilized economic-driven data for this analysis it also utilized a measurement known as “health insurance units”: factors which included economics but also calculated household eligibility by noting the size of the household in conjunction with employment and other identifiers (paragraph 1). Ultimately, the organization`s analysis revealed that the U.S. healthcare system is comprised of both private and public sources: those deriving from the government and those that are either privately purchased or acquired through an employer. Specifically, the Foundation (2017) identified five classifications of health insurance coverage: employer, private (non-group), Medicaid, Medicare, and Other Public. The Foundation also noted a sixth category—Uninsured—to identify the percentage of people who are still without insurance. The group organized this information by state and included in percentage form to make the data manageable and…

    • 897 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    It feels good to be able to make a doctor’s appointment and get health screens or prescriptions as needed without the hassle of being rejected because lack of health insurance. I, unlike millions, am employed full time by a major company that has this option. A very close friend of mine, who is paralyzed from the waist down had been covered by his mother’s health insurance through her employer for many years. Last year, she came of retirement age and the insurance company informed them that Jimmy will no longer be covered and need to seek other options. Until President Obama’s Health Care Reform Bill, Jimmy was denied coverage numerous times because of his “pre-existing conditions.” How could a country so rich, deny a person who needs medical insurance? We needed a change and this Bill was indeed the answer. The Health Care Reform Bill is much needed and relevant to society because it will extend health care…

    • 494 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When it comes to the health care system, most people agree that America is ready for a change. A system that delivers accessible, high quality care, is what we need. We can’t achieve this goal with government policies that attack the root of our current health care system. The Obama administration and members of congress are pushing to set up a government run health care system. The government system is operating in competition with private health insurance that is commonly provided by many employers to employees and their families. Employer sponsored health insurance is the backbone of our nation’s health care system and if this health insurance is banished this would affect 160 million Americans. Do you want the future of health care to be in the hands of a few politicians, the same politicians that are making themselves exempt from their own policies?…

    • 814 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This federal will affect the marketing aspect of the health care industry regardless if they are driven or not. If the companies are driven and market correctly then they will be able to attract people that are willing to pay for the services they provide. This will cause for private health insurance providers to change the way they provide services. The new marketing strategies will show how they are providing better care for those who have pre-existing conditions. This law will affect how the private health insurance sector markets the different types of services they provide. The companies will have to go back and look at how they are marketing their services to get the clients they want to attract. If they are market driven then they will market things that are more appealing to the clientele they currently serve or want to be serving, this could involve free health screening, more bang for their bucks, and the opportunity to understand all that the company offers to its insured. Some will be more ambitious to provide new marketing ideas to keep current clients and attract new ones while others might hate change and move slower towards new ideas. This will cause them to either loose current clients and not attract new ones.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Affordable Care Act has been the viable solution for refining and offering quality and affordable health care for all those who have long been excluded out of the healthcare system. For this paper, the most influential of these benefits will be addressed. Those benefits include the realization of more citizens gaining access to affordable healthcare, pre-existing health conditions no longer impeding healthcare coverage, and the improved quality of patient care.…

    • 604 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    In his speeches, Obama has promised Americans that they will be able to keep their existing health-care coverage but the proposed bills tell a different story. Both bills necessitate that Americans buy approved plans that have a number of universal benefits or face penalties. Even with a five year grace period given to big employers to convert to the new plans, there will be no options if the bills are passed. Choosing what benefits are included in one’s health-care plan often times saves money that could put food on the table for a struggling family. Several states have already imposed a list of required benefits for health-care plans; everyone from “chiropractors to alcohol-abuse counselors” competes to be included on lists of required benefits (Tully). This competition is one reason health-care costs continue to…

    • 2189 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Affordable Care Act also known as Obamacare is a law that was passed in March of 2010, with hopes of reforming the Unites States health care system. The main problem surrounding this policy is that fact that nearly 7 million people and counting were uninsured. Also, millions of citizens have health insurance but struggle to pay for it. Health care spending and cost is skyrocketing and becoming an uncontrollable issue for majority of the U.S citizens. High insurance cost creates difficulties with the access and quality of health care. Expensive health care keeps citizens from utilizing health care services to its full potential. Not only does it make citizens use the services less, but the quality decreases as well. The issue of unaffordable health care is on the rise and the health of the nation is suffering. Another reason some citizens fail to obtain health insurance is due to preexisting conditions. The problem with this is many insurance companies deny individuals with preexisting health conditions. The Affordable Care Act helps these citizens obtain health insurance without the fear of being denied or stuck with paying high insurance premiums due to a past history…

    • 650 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Access to Health Care

    • 2651 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Economical and political access to health care is in huge debate currently, from health care reform, Medicare, and Medicaid. Economical and political access affects most of the population. Economic access is often dependent on having a health plan or being eligible for one of the government programs (Ellis & Hartley, 2008). The U.S Census Bureau estimates that nearly 50.7 million Americans do not currently have health insurance (p. 24). Ever since its inception, access to health care has been a heavily debated topic both on a federal and state level. The argument has been made for the implementation of health care reform due to the increasing number of uninsured and underinsured American citizens. The World Health Organization (2006) assessed that, “the highest standard of health should be within reach to all, without distinction of race, religion, political belief, and economic or social condition” (para. 1). Ellis and Hartley (2008) point out, private insurance companies raise deductibles and co-payments in attempt to get patients to use services wisely. This sounds great in theory; however, lower income families may delay or avoid timely care. Uninsured and underinsured…

    • 2651 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Best Essays