Does Healthcare Reform help me get coverage if I have medical issues?

Presently Healthcare Reform is in the implementation stages and to a large extent is not fully implemented. It is also facing a decision of constitutionality by the Supreme Court of the United States. These two factors mean we have a long way to go before we have a fully functional law if ever.

The timeline for the law does not call for major changes such as implementing guaranteed issue for all major medical health plans until 2013. Thus for those who currently have major medical issues they must still meet all underwriting criteria for a plan to be issued by the insurance carrier.  Thus, if you have serious medical conditions it is possible there will be no coverage offered.

Presently, in Texas you can always go to the Texas High Risk Pool for help with coverage when you are declined by other carriers.  Many other states have similar programs for those who are otherwise not insurable with traditional health insurance for individuals.

In 2014 if the law stands, you will be able to get coverage, however ratings can be applied so those with major health issued will still likely pay more.  Some of those details are still not fully worked out.  There is a 3:1 ratio that is to be implemented that one person does not pay more than 3 times what anyone else pays in the same geographical are. I expect but have not been told explicitly, that age as well as medical conditions will warrant the differentials in rates.

Ultimately yes, if the healthcare reform act stands, it will help you get coverage, but it will not necessarily make the coverage any less expensive for you.  There are still issues with how the law is structured that allows healthy people to opt out and pay a minimal fine thus making for a riskier pool of folks buying insurance thus higher premiums for those individuals.