Alabama Health Insurance

Alabama has fewer insurance regulations than other states. Still, it's important to familiarize yourself with them, so you're more confident and wise in your purchases.

This guide:

• Describes important Alabama health insurance policy regulations.

• Lists rules Alabama health insurance companies must follow.

Health insurance policies are regulated by each state's own health insurance laws. Alabama health insurance companies and policyholders alike must abide by established insurance laws.

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Alabama health insurance policy provisions

Some of the most important Alabama health insurance laws to be concerned with are the ones regulating the health insurance policy specifically.

For one, Alabama health insurance companies must include a guaranteed renewability provision in any health insurance policy they issue. This policy provision states that, as long as premiums have been met, an insurance company cannot deny you continued coverage.

Also, Alabama health insurance companies can not include in their policies a pre-existing condition exclusion period of more than 2 years. Pre-existing conditions are determined and defined by your health insurance company, though they typically include illnesses you have obtained medical care for or were diagnosed for 5 years prior to the beginning of the plan.

During the exclusion period, the health insurance company is not responsible for covering the cost of treating the pre-existing condition.

If you fulfill a pre-existing condition exclusion period under one health insurance policy and then decide to change insurance plans, you can be subjected to another exclusion period. Alabama health insurance laws do not restrict the exclusion periods nor do they limit the conditions that can be excluded.

Regulating Alabama health insurance companies

The other area of importance in regards to health insurance laws is the degree of influence your health insurance company has over your policy and its price.

The State of Alabama health insurance regulations aren't too restrictive, which means, as a policyholder, you need to be more attentive to the precise meaning of your health insurance policy's wording.

When you originally submit your health insurance application, Alabama health insurance companies can refuse to offer you health insurance coverage because of your health.

If an insurance company agrees to sell you a policy, your health status can be used to determine the price of the policy.

However, anyone buying an Alabama health insurance policy has the protection that once the policy is purchased, it is illegal for Alabama health insurance companies to cancel your health insurance coverage on the grounds of illness.

These limitations and allowances are certainly not the only ones, but they hold the most importance.

More AL health insurance help

If you want more help getting the a good health insurance policy, read our guide to health insurance.

Also see the guide to Alabama small business health insurance.

To find out more about AL health insurance laws and regulations, visit the official website of the State of Alabama Department of Insurance.