Cancer/Heart Health Insurance Policy

As cancer and heart disease rates increase in America , more people are concerned for their ability to get health insurance. People who need health insurance the most may have the most difficulty getting it. However, informed consumers with heart disease or cancer can investigate their options and rights and find a plan that will cover them.

State Laws Protect Those with Cancer and Heart Disease

There are state laws that protect people with help on getting cancer/heart health insurance policy. One place to start if you are unsure what health policies in your state will consider you for insurance is the state web site available at http://insurance.about.com/od/deptsofinsurance/ . Here you will learn of specific rules in your state and your eligibility. If your state is one that requires a certain number of insurance companies to insure high risk customers who cannot receive insurance elsewhere. Some states require open enrollment periods in which anyone can buy health insurance, regardless of health history.

Two Federal Laws for Cancer/Heart Health Insurance Policy

COBRA is a federal law that places certain requirements on companies with regard to how long they should insure someone whose benefits have expired. Companies with 20 or more employees are required to offer insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions. Some COBRA plans also allow you to convert to an individual insurance policy once COBRA expires.

Another law that can help people with heart disease or cancer is the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA). This law means in general that employers cannot discriminate on the basis of health history, and that members can take their benefits with them to another job. There are many loopholes, however, and these laws do not necessarily help those patients who are not employed.

Education is Your Best Option

There are other options too. Check with local religious and non-profit organizations, as well as professional organizations and credit card companies that offer membership in their health care plans.

Georgetown University publishes a Consumer Guide that outlines your rights with health insurance. This guide is helpful reading and is available at

http:// www.healthinsuranceinfo.net .

Health Insurance Nexus | US : The US Health Insurance Resource, conceptualized in Dec, 2004, is an online portal which provides up-to-date, pertinent information about health insurance in US. Copyright @2005 Honlyn Limited All Rights Reserved

In no event shall Health Insurance Matters be liable to anyone for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions with respect to the information for any damage arising therefrom or occasioned thereby, or for the results obtained from the use of the information. By accessing this site , you are agreeing to the terms of use .