COVID-19 May Be a Pre-Existing Condition

Tracy Davenport

Health

5th October 2020

COVID-19 May Be a Pre-Existing Condition

Complications from COVID can affect patients for years to come (Getty Images).

The Claim

Anyone who has had COVID-19 has a pre-existing condition for healthcare purposes.

News posted on

Emerging story

Whether or not someone has a pre-existing medical condition may soon make a big difference in his or her ability to obtain medical insurance at a reasonable price. On November 11, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court will be arguing the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which presently provides protections for those with pre-existing conditions. On September 21, 2020, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy tweeted out that if you have had COVID-19 you will be considered to have a pre-existing medical condition. This was liked or retweeted over 100,000 times.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar's investigation found that most COVID-19 cases have been very mild or even without symptoms. However, according to one study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 35 percent of symptomatic adults who had a positive test for COVID-19 had not returned to their usual state of health 2-3 weeks after testing. Among those who were younger, 18-34 years old with no chronic medical conditions, one in five had not returned to their usual state of health. The CDC is also investigating rare impacts to the heart from people who have had COVID-19.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, if the Affordable Care Act is overturned, insurers could discriminate against people with COVID-19. Before the ACA, medically underwritten health insurance sold to individuals could discriminate based on a person’s health conditions and history as well as other risk factors. Someone who applies for medically underwritten health insurance while sick – or after having been sick – with COVID-19 might be turned down, charged more, or offered a plan that excludes coverage for COVID-19 or related symptoms. A positive test for the coronavirus could also be used in medical underwriting.

The Kaiser Family Foundation also believes that it is possible that someone who has recently been tested negative for COVID-19 – for example, a rideshare driver who gets tested from time to time out of concern about his potential exposure – might also be discriminated against if insurers determine people who seek testing tend to be at higher risk of getting COVID-19. If ACA protections are invalidated, such people might be turned down, charged more, or offered a policy that temporarily or permanently excludes coverage for COVID-19.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, many Americans, especially those who are unemployed, are relying on affordable public health insurance.

If the ACA is soon overturned, and COVID-19 is determined to be a pre-existing condition, this could make obtaining insurance difficult or impossible for those who have tested positive for the virus.

It is too early in the disease process to determine if COVID-19 will be determined to be a pre-existing condition by most medical insurers. However, it does seem to be a future possibility.