| This economy has more and more Americans looking | | | | limitations unless the carrier excluded the condition by |
| for new individual health insurance choices. With the | | | | name at time of approval. Presently there are only |
| massive amount of layoffs consumers are requesting | | | | two Texas health insurance companies that refrain for |
| quotes at a breakneck rate. If you are in my line of | | | | doing pre existing exclusions, Aetna and Cigna. So with |
| work that's great news, however there is one little tiny | | | | these two guys whatever the condition provided you |
| piece of paper that you have that is critical to the | | | | have no gap greater than 63 days and you provide |
| proper claim payment performance of your new | | | | the CCC letter the condition is not subject to pre |
| coverage. | | | | existing limitations, provided of course the policy gets |
| Your new health carrier needs, no, correction, must | | | | approved, they can deny coverage at application time |
| have your Certificate of Creditable Coverage (CCC). | | | | based on medical reasons. |
| This document is provided by your old insurance | | | | So, remember, when applying for new health |
| company. Simply put, this paper proves the length of | | | | coverage be sure to provide your new carrier with a |
| time you have been covered by your prior benefit | | | | copy of your Certificate of Creditable Coverage upon |
| carrier. It also indicates the termination date of | | | | approval, don't allow a coverage gap of greater than |
| coverage. Now, what's the big deal you might ask? | | | | 63 days and list all health conditions on the application |
| Well, law states that if your coverage lapses for | | | | and you very well may find those minor health |
| greater than 63 days you begin loosing any pre | | | | conditions covered. |
| existing credit you have gathered from your prior | | | | I always recommend dealing with an established |
| coverage. | | | | independent Texas health insurance broker in order to |
| OK, so how does this apply? If you apply for new | | | | advise you of how pre-existing limitations would apply |
| coverage and you have some type of health condition | | | | to your family. If better to find out now rather than |
| the CCC letter exempts you for pre existing condition | | | | after a major claim has been submitted. |