Quote Originally Posted by DuncanONeil View Post
"This means many individuals lose their insurance if their company downsizes, and then when they try and get new insurance if they have a pre-existing condition they are denied coverage or quoted a massive rate. This is the case even though the condition did not predate their work insurance."
I have heard this stated in numerous venues. But due to a child reaching maximum age and being dropped from parent's insurance we learned that documents can be procured that show the "client" has been insured and that they are not a new risk. True this does not offer a great deal of help if they are without a group. Such will result in a higher rate, but said higher rate is, by objective standards, not totally outrageous. Somebody would be required to pay the portion formerly paid by the employer. Although coverage of an individual can be more tailored to the needs of that individual.
It is the case that they are not a new risk but that doesn't help if the insurance company can factor the old risk into the cost of the new plan, which is not prevented by law. Also depending on the disease by most standards the higher rate can be outrageous. If the cost of care that the company knows the client will need is $1200/month with the potential to rise, they aren't going to offer a policy that costs less than $2000/month.

And even $1200/month on medical insurance is beyond many's ability to pay. That's basically a choice of paying the rent(or mortgage) or paying for health care for a lot of Americans.