If you have recently applied for Health Insurance, or you are thinking about getting health coverage for you and your family, you may be worried that pre-existing conditions will affect your ability to get the coverage you need. How do health insurance companies check for pre-existing conditions? Is there any way to keep them from finding out about past health problems?

The Health Insurance Application Interview

The first source of information for health insurance companies is the application interview. When you complete a health insurance application, you will be asked about the health history of every person who will be covered under the policy. The Insurance Company will want to know about past illnesses, hospitalizations, surgeries, and use of prescription medications. It is important to be as honest and thorough as possible when answering questions – if you omit information, the insurance company can rescind your policy. In the worst cases, if the insurance company believes that you intentionally left out critical information, you may be charged with insurance fraud. This can lead to fines and even imprisonment.

The Medical Information Bureau

You may not know it, but every time you visit the emergency room or are hospitalized, information about your condition and treatment is sent to a central data reporting agency called the Medical Information Bureau. This agency also receives reports when your doctor prescribes medications, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs.

When you apply for health or life insurance, the insurance company orders reports from the Medical Information Bureau. These reports contain a detailed history of any illnesses you have had. It also reports any hospitalizations and surgeries. In many cases, it even lists any medications you have been prescribed, regardless of whether you filled the prescriptions. Your insurance company uses this information to determine if there is a pre-existing condition, and bases its decision on this information.