Help understanding new / current health insurance standards

[cilla4progress]

I have had employer-paid health insurance all my adult life until my layoff in December 2009 (actually, non-renewal of grant...certainly due to economic downturn/depression-recession...).

SO - I purchased an individual "catastrophic" policy. It has a $2500 deductible and $5K annual stop loss, so, could be worse.

However, of course, catastrophe has rained down. I believe I have a throat polyp. If I go in and get diagnosed, and then later get a job with employer-paid health insurance, do I (under present regs and/or new law -- when does this item come down the pike into actual effect???), run the risk of being tagged with a pre-existing condition, such that a new policy wouldn't cover it?

I am having to decide between getting this thing checked out now, or waiting till I get new coverage, which might exempt it as a pre-existing condition.

Think I'll send this question in to my 2 dem senators, as well. What do you think of that? :)

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I really don't know for sure, but believe if you become employed, the insurer can't refuse you

because of a pre-existing condition.

Get the thing checked out now. It could be benign and it will be removed. My ENT told me that the longer something like a polyp or swelling is allowed to exist the greater the chance of it becoming a cancer.

[cilla4progress]

2. Thanks.

Sent emails to my senators to ask them what part (if any) of new health care legislation addresses this, and is in effect already!

Guess I'll go make the appointment now. Bye bye home equity and good credit rating (!)