Can You Get Health Insurance If You Are Already Sick?

If you’ve recently become unemployed and you have a preexisting condition, COBRA is an important option, Turner says. According to the HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) law, individual employees (as well as former employees getting their health care from COBRA) cannot be charged differently on a group health plan, whether or not they have preexisting conditions.

Turner suggests that those seeking advice on the legal logistics of health insurance matters should contact the Department of Labor’s benefit advisors at 1-866-444-3272.

While offering counsel on which health insurance to purchase, Lehrman says he’s told clients "nobody’s going to give you the policy" after learning of their medical background. "It literally breaks my heart," he says. "At least 30% of the people who call us looking for insurance, we can’t help. But, you have to look at it from the insurance company’s point of view: Why should they be forced to give [someone] a policy when they know it’s going to cost them a lot of money?"

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