Most people with private health insurance get it through their jobs. Some people believe you cannot get private insurance if you have HIV. This is not true.
You have certain rights that are protected by law
These rights include:
- It is against the law to treat some people differently from others (discriminate)
- Most companies have group coverage plans. For group plans, an insurance company can never use a person's health status to deny coverage
- An insurance company cannot deny you the right to renew your policy
- By law, an insurance company must allow you to renew your policy as long as you have paid the premiums
Preexisting conditions
Insurance companies have a rule about certain health problems called preexisting conditions. These are illnesses or health problems you had before you applied for insurance.
- If you test positive before you have insurance through your job, your company's insurance provider can make you wait for 1 year (12 months) before it will insure you
- You do not have this waiting period if you had health insurance before and if that insurance ended less than 2 months before you started your new job
Contact your insurance company or your employer (if you feel comfortable) to ask questions about your private insurance coverage.
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