West Virginia Health Insurance Coverage...
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If you are searching for ways to lower your health insurance costs and you live in the State of West Virginia...We, here at HealthInsureCoverage.com, work hard to supply you with the information you need to make an informed decision regarding your health insurance needs and requirements.

• What protections should you expect of purchasing Individual Health Insurance in the State of West Virginia?
     In general, companies that sell individual health insurance in West Virginia are free to turn you down because of your health status and other factors. When applying for individual coverage, you may be asked questions about health conditions you have now or had in the past. Depending on your health status, insurers might refuse to sell you coverage or offer to sell you a policy that has special limitations on what it covers.
• HMOs in West Virginia may have an annual open enrollment period.
     During this period, you can buy individual coverage without regard to your health status. There can be exceptions to this requirement.
• If you are federally eligible, however, private insurers cannot turn you down. All companies that sell individual insurance must offer you a choice of at least two plans, whose benefits must be similar to those sold to everyone else.
     Companies that do not designate two policies must offer you a choice of all their individual insurance policies. Policies sold to federally eligible individuals cannot impose pre-existing condition exclusion periods. However, there is no limit on what you can be charged for this coverage.
• In order to be federally eligible, you must meet certain criteria:
     If you are federally eligible you are guaranteed the right to buy an individual health plan and are exempted from pre-existing condition exclusion periods. To be federally eligible, you must meet all of the following:
  
  * You must have had 18 months of continuous creditable coverage, at least the last day of which was under a group health plan.
  * You also must have used up any COBRA or state continuation coverage for which you were eligible.
  * You must not be eligible for Medicare, Medicaid or a group health plan. * You must not have health insurance. (Note, however, if you know your group coverage is about to end, you can apply for coverage for which you will be federally eligible.)
  * You must apply for health insurance for which you are federally eligible within 63 days of losing your prior coverage.
  
  Federal eligibility ends when you enroll in an individual plan, because the last day of your continuous health coverage must have been in a group plan. You can become federally eligible again by maintaining continuous coverage and rejoining a group health plan.
  
  
• In West Virginia, newborns, adopted children and children placed for adoption are automatically covered under the parents’ individual health plan for the first 31 days, if the plan covers dependents.
     The insurer may require that the parent enroll the baby within the 31 days in order to continue coverage beyond the 31 days.
• If you are leaving a fully insured group health plan, you can buy an individual health plan from the company that provided your group coverage.
     This is called a conversion policy. Conversion policies are described later on in this chapter.
• What will your Individual Health Plan cover?
     It depends on what you buy. West Virginia does not require health insurers in the individual market to sell standardized policies. Health insurers can design different policies and you will have to read and compare them carefully. However, West Virginia does require all health plans to cover certain benefits – such as childhood immunizations. Check with the West Virginia Insurance Commission for more information about mandated benefits.
• What can you be charged for Individual Health Coverage in West Virginia?
     If you have an expensive health condition, your individual health insurance premiums may be very high. The law does not prohibit West Virginia health insurers from charging you more because of your health status. Individual health plan premiums can vary depending on your health status and may be high if you have a pre-existing condition. Your premiums also will vary depending on your family size and the type of policy you want. In addition, when you renew your individual coverage, your premiums can increase substantially as you age or if your health declines.
• Exercise more.
     The benefits of exercising are always compound. You gain better energy, self-esteem, emotional stability and your weight will stabilize and begin to normalize over time. This can literally change your life and all ways. Many studies show it's never too late to start exercising and that even small improvements in your fitness level can improve your health and longevity.
  
• Can your Individual Health Insurance be cancelled?
     Your coverage cannot be canceled because you get sick. This is called guaranteed renewability. You have this protection provided that you pay the premiums, do not defraud the company, and, in the case of managed care plans, continue to live in the plan service area.
• Some insurance companies sell temporary health insurance policies.
     Temporary policies are not guaranteed renewable. They will only cover you for a limited time, such as six months. If you want to renew coverage under a temporary policy after it expires you will have to reapply and there is no guarantee that coverage will be re-issued at all or at the same price.
• There are many factors to consider when purchasing any type of Health Insurance. It is best to consult with a Health Insurance Professional who thoroughly understands all the Federal and State laws.

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