Pre-existing conditions - insurance companies can charge whatever they want? Or not?

[progree]

I read news articles that say they can't charge those with pre-existing conditions extra.

[cbdo2007]

1. They charge them a minimum of $1,000,001

Seriously, why do people have to have this same discussion every time the ACA is in the news??

[progree]

2. Not everyone lives here. I see a lot of conflicting information. Its a serious question.

Could you please give a serious answer? I'm not the only one wondering. As I see discussion in some other threads, but I think this topic deserves an OP so that someone will hopefully provide a link to a reliable source. Thank you.

[ananda]

3. Here is a good guide to the key provisions.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/28/obama-healthcare-reform-key-provisions

Other 2014 measures

• The establishment of health insurance exchanges to spread the risk in order to cover the additional costs insurance companies incur through the reforms while making policies more affordable. Premiums will be subsidised for people living in households with a total income of up to four times the poverty line up to a maximum of 9.5% of income.

•The exchanges will require that people deemed to be high risk because of pre-existing medical conditions cannot be charged higher rates than the rest of the population with a cap on additional out of pocket medical expenses of $5,950 per year for individual or $11,900 for each family.

• Annual spending caps will also be prohibited.

[progree]

4. Thanks much. But sounds like one could get hit really hard with copays and deductibles

The exchanges will require that people deemed to be high risk because of pre-existing medical conditions cannot be charged higher rates than the rest of the population with a cap on additional out of pocket medical expenses of $5,950 per year for individual or $11,900 for each family.