Pre-Obamacare, most states had a law that stated that insurance could not raise their rates if you were covered when you developed your condition. Also, in Texas and Pennsylvania, even when I had to change providers, I could not be charged a higher rate, so long as I was covered when I developed my condition. I know this because I lived in both states at different times and had to buy new insurance due to self employment.
This was already the law, this was before Obamacare, so what did Obamacare bring to the table? That you could avoid buying health coverage until you got sick? I bought 3 months of very expensive COBRA coverage so there would be no gap in my coverage when my circumstances changed.
This was already the law, this was before Obamacare, so what did Obamacare bring to the table?It made the provisions you mentioned at the state level, federal law. Reasonable state provisions for preexisting conditions, pre-Obamacare, may not be binding on other states.
Also, in Texas and Pennsylvania, even when I had to change providers, I could not be charged a higher rate, so long as I was covered when I developed my condition.You sure about that? I lived in both states and don't remember it being that way.
According to Kaiser, pre-ACA only 5 states had guaranteed issue, and PA and TX weren't included.