What happens to young adults with a pre-existing condition who rejoin a parents insurance plan?
Thanks to the new legislation, starting in 2014, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage based on a pre-existing condition. Moreover, beginning on September 23rd, plans will not be able to exclude children under age 19 for having a pre-existing condition. However, the law under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act continues to apply to everyone 19 and older until 2014. That means that employer-sponsored insurance plans may continue to exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions for up to a year after a young adult enrolls. Applicants can reduce the exclusionary period by the number of days they have maintained “creditable coverage” prior to enrolling in the new plan (most health insurance qualifies as creditable coverage). In other words, if you had insurance for 30 days and then switched to the new plan, you should be able to reduce the exclusionary period by 30 days. Young adults should try to stay covered continually, as individuals who go wit
