Could I get health insurance even if i was diagnosed with hepatitis B?

heidi v

I was recently tested positive for Hepatitis B and I wanna know if I could still purchase a health insurance?
I live in California and I am a college student and just work part time.I do not have health insurance since I am just part time worker.

Ferret Face · 08-09-2009, 01:00 AM

If you can get health insurance at work, and they have an open enrollment period.

Or maybe you can find a company that accepts Prue-existing conditions, with an "elimination period"--you have to wait 90 days, or 6 months, etc. The temp agency I worked for offered insurance like this.

Didn't all this change with the new Health Care program?

atp · 08-11-2009, 01:00 AM

~~Yes if it is group insurance (through your employer), and not necessarily if it is a private policy you purchase yourself.

Some states have a high risk pool which forces carriers to accept someone with a preexisting. If so you can get health insurance, but at huge premiums.

If you can't afford or don't live in a state with that option then call your local county health department and see what type of programs there may be in your area for help. You clearly need to have treatment, so hopefully there is help.

I just can't believe in this country sick people have to go without care unless they can afford to pay for it. I know of a lady in Nevada, was laid off and has nothing much to live on, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Absolutely no help in her state at all. So her prognosis is a long painful ordeal and then death. Her unemployment barley allows her a roof over her head, but she can't qualify for any medical help. How insane is this??

SprinkelsGirl808 · 08-15-2009, 01:00 AM

It depends on what state you live in. If you live in a guaranteed issue state like New York, yes.

baby #1 due in march · 08-17-2009, 01:00 AM

Yes. In California, once you apply for any health insurance policy and are denied because of a preexisting condition (including hepatitis), you can then purchase health insurance from the California managed risk medical insurance board. You meet most of the requirements, such as living in California and not being able to get insurance at work, so applying for (and being denied) insurance is the last step before you qualify.