Virginia Health Insurance

There are a dozen major health insurance carriers serving the state of Virginia, including Aetna, Kaiser, and Blue Cross. With such a wide variety of companies and policies to choose from, you may be asking yourself, "Where do I start?" Start by reading the guide below, which we've put together to help you find the best coverage possible. After that, let us help you find the carriers and get a quote for the type of policy you need.

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Individual Health Plans in Virginia (VA)

As an individual applying for a health plan, you can choose to go with a group policy, or an individual plan. Group plans include HMOs, PPOs, POSs, and HSAs, and tend to be less costly than individual policies. The benefit of an individual policy is that it can be written to fit your coverage needs.

In Virginia, you can be turned down for individual insurance, unless you are with Blue Cross Blue Shield, or if you are HIPAA-eligible. If\ you have a preexisting condition, carriers can charge you higher rates, as they are not restricted by law. Your carrier can also give you an exclusion period of up to one year, and attach an elimination rider to your policy if you have a preexisting condition. Your health insurance cannot be cancelled if you fall ill after your benefits have started.

Virginia Family Medical Coverage (VA)

Virginia families have some of the same policy options as individuals. You can purchase a group plan or an individual plan. Or, your employer may offer you benefits that cover your family as well. However, there are some slight differences in how group health plans are regulated. Here are a few rules concerning your family coverage:

• You cannot be denied coverage or charged more for coverage due to health problems.
• If you go through significant family changes, such as a childbirth or divorce, you may receive additional opportunities to enroll in group coverage.
• Virginia carriers may look back at the past 6 months of your medical history to check for health problems. If preexisting conditions are found, they may impose an exclusion period (max. 12 months) on your family's policy.
• Be on time! If you enroll late and have a preexisting health problem, your exclusion period can be as long as 18 months.

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How to Get Insurance in Virginia for Preexisting Conditions

Except for Blue Cross Blue Shield, private insurance companies are allowed to deny your application for coverage based on a preexisting condition. Under Virginia law, Anthem and CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance companies are required to write an insurance policy, regardless if you have a preexisting condition. Although, it may be extremely expensive as there is no limitation on the costs of premiums or renewals. Make sure to compare those prices with other insurance companies that will, in fact, accept preexisting conditions.

Virginia does not have a high-risk pool and has limited applicable public health services. State high-risk pools are nonprofit associations created by individual states to provide health insurance coverage to those who are unable to otherwise acquire it on their own, usually due to a preexisting condition.

Finding health insurance coverage in Virginia when you have a preexisting health condition can be a difficult task. But if you work at it and invest some time into the process, you likely can find a preexisting health insurance policy that will work for you.

Getting New Health Coverage in Virginia

If you're moving to Virginia and need a new health plan, or have to switch carriers for any other reason, we're here to help you find the right coverage for you or your family. Here are a few additional pieces of information if you need to change your health plan:

• Employers in Virginia are not required to provide their employees with health insurance. They must, however, make sure that the benefits they offer are non-discriminatory.
• If you've just left a job, COBRA, or state continuation coverage, can allow you to keep the benefits you had under your previous employer.
• If your new employer does offer health benefits, be aware that he or she is allowed to delay your coverage. Similarly, if your company uses an HMO plan, you may have to wait out an affiliation period.

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