i dont have insurance but have pain in back now, is this a pre existing condition?

  • Thread starter Thread starter timetwo
  • Start date Start date
T

timetwo

Guest
i dont have insurance but have pain in back now, is this a pre existing condition?
 
Most insurance companies define a pre-existing condition as one that you have seen a doctor for within the previous 12 months. Once you get insurance again, you'll need to find out how they define a pre-existing condition.

If your back pain is severe, don't let this stop you from getting treated for your back problems even if you don't have insurance.

If it's mild, most doctors will tell you to take NSAID's like Ibuprofin and prescribe physical therapy to start with. It's when you don't get better after about a month that they will do MRI's and further investigations.

Back pain can be caused by muscle-related problems such as pulled muscles, or by spine-related problems such as a herniated disc. Muscle pain will usually go away after a few weeks with ice/heat therapy and tylenol/ibuprofin. Herniated discs usually need NSAID's and physical therapy and also can improve but need much more time (months or years) to improve, and sometimes require surgery to fix. If you have a herniated disc and don't get treated early enough you can end up with nerve damage sometimes. Herniated discs also often come with the symptom of sciatica.

Best wishes!
 
A pre-existing condition is one for which you have been treated, sought out consultation, been prescribed meRAB, had tests for, etc. So if you have the pain but have not seen a physician (or ER or Urgent Care) then it can not be deemed pre-existing. But if you have had treatment in any form (including just being seen and saying "I have back pain" and that's recorded in the record) then this can be considered pre-existing.

If you start a job and get insurance coverage under your job or under that or your spouse, parent or partner (where allowed) then you would not likely have to answer any medical questions for coverage. But when you seek out treatment then the insurance company would ask you to prove that what you are seeking treatment for is not pre-existing. In this case they want you to prove there was NO treatment in any form. The policy may exclude any condition for which you received treatment in the 12-24 months prior to coverage. But every policy differs.

If you are seeking individual health insurance then you will be required to fill out an extensive medical questionnaire in which you must honestly answer all questions and declare all treatment within whatever period they request (sometimes up to 10 years prior). If they find any condition they choose not to cover they can exclude that from any coverage. Or they could indicate it would be covered only if treatment free for a set period of time (every insurance company and plan differs on the time period).
 
Back
Top