Health Insurance With Heart Disease

Heart disease is a chronic illness that can lead to life-threatening conditions such as stroke and heart attacks. According to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is the leading cause of death among adults in America. Perhaps ironically, this expensive and life threatening illness can make it difficult to get affordable health insurance.

Risk

The insurance industry, including health insurance, is based on risk. Virginia-based insurance executive Courtney Rogers reports that insurance companies hire mathematicians to analyze illness and mortality statistics. In much the same way casinos analyze gambling odds, these actuaries predict how likely a given person is to get ill, and how much they are likely to cost the company when they do. The greater this risk, the higher the rates. If a person presents too great a risk, the company may deny the claim altogether.

Heart Disease and Treatment

Heart disease treatment represents the single greatest health care cost in America today, reports health news website "For a Healthy America." These costs come from frequent testing, doctor visits, medication, surgery, physical therapy and emergency medical procedures due to heart attack and stroke. Insurance companies understand these numbers, and rate heart disease as a high-risk illness.

Treatment History

According to insurance executive Rogers, a history of successful treatment can make a big difference when it comes to insurance rates. Somebody who had a heart attack 10 years ago with regular treatment and no trouble since will get better rates than someone who had a heart attack last year with no doctor visits at all. On a related note, many states require insurance companies to cover an individual without charging extra premiums once that person has been insured for a set period of time. In some cases, this applies even if the individual was previously insured by a different company.

Group Insurance

If you have heart disease and are having trouble getting affordable coverage, Rogers recommends joining a group with a group insurance policy. A group policy is negotiated by a large group, such as an employer or trade union. Many group policies require the company to insure all members regardless of their medical history, and at the same rates.

Health-Care Reform Act

As of September 2010, the Health Care Reform Act forbids insurance companies from denying children insurance due to a pre-existing condition. The act sets 2014 as the date after which this rule will apply to adults as well. Both of these provisions will apply to individuals with heart disease.