2. Pre-existing conditions don’t disqualify you
Before the American Care Act, a pre-existing condition was often enough to land someone in an insurance-less health care wasteland. Nevermind that preventive care could mitigate or even reverse some of the effects of pre-existing conditions. Doesn’t matter if the person – a living, breathing human being – stood to suffer significantly without insurance.
At risk for cancer? Too bad, friend. Mental health giving you problems? Take it somewhere else. Even minors could be denied coverage for the audacity of getting sick or being born with their genes slightly askew.
Pre-existing conditions could be nearly anything, given that the determination of such conditions were often left up to the insurers. Is it any surprise, then, that many of the decisions made surrounding pre-existing conditions were favorable to insurance companies?
Pre-existing conditions could be anything from high blood pressure, to congenital defects, to mental illness. Even pregnancy could be conveniently considered a pre-existing condition, meaning that both the expectant parent and soon-to-be child were left without health care.
But more on the pregnancy exclusion in a bit. The point is, the ACA does away with all of that. While the cost and availability of plans admittedly needs to be redone, it’s still miles better than nothing at all. It’s also a lot easier for people who need to switch their plans, for whatever reason. People can more easily consider changing jobs or starting businesses without the threat of losing health care hanging over their heads.