I had a hysterectomy last year, and then lost my health insurance when I lost my job. I’m finally getting a new job with health insurance. Will my new plan consider my hysterectomy a pre-existing condition?
Feeling Better, Wondering More
Dear Feeling Better, Wondering More,
It takes two ingredients to make a “pre-existing condition”:
1) You had treatment for it in the six months before you join a new plan.
2) You were uninsured for at least 63 days before you join a new plan.
With both of those ingredients, your new plan could refuse to pay for care that is related to your hysterectomy for 12 months. Any other care – even care from your gynecologist – would be covered. Unless something went awry with your hysterectomy, you probably won’t be needing care related to it.
Take this worry off your mind and enjoy your new job!