First of all, a guaranteed issue health insurance plan is not a major medical health insurance policy and therefore only covers certain specified aspects of health care. For instance, it is possible to buy a personal accident indemnity plan. In this policy, the insurance company will only cover the benefits related to personal accidents, such as dislocations, burns, fractures, paralysis, surgical procedures, lacerations, comas and brain concussions that have resulted from a covered accident. This plan includes emergency room fees, follow-up treatments and hospital confinement benefits, including intensive care benefits that are a result of the covered accident. Most types of accidents are covered, but there are several exclusions as well, such as any type of accident that results while the driver is under the influence of a controlled substance or while intoxicated. Mountaineering accidents that include using ropes and/or related equipment, parachuting, or hang gliding are excluded from the policy as well as sport-related injuries for individuals that are working for a wage, including officials and coaches. These are just a few exclusions that are in the accident policy. I highly recommend reading through the exclusions section of the insurance company’s brochure before purchasing a policy. Nothing is more maddening than finding out after the fact that your insurance doesn’t cover the accident you had last week.

So who can benefit most from the guaranteed issue health plan? Any individual that cannot afford or obtain a major medical policy. This includes individuals that are considered “uninsurable” by the general market because they have cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, a heart condition or severe depression or who have had these conditions excluded from their existing medical policy. A guaranteed issue health plan can bridge the gaps created either by one’s health or by one’s finances without creating a financial nightmare. And the best part is, virtually everyone qualifies and there are no medical questions to answer, so pre-existing health conditions can not keep you from qualifying.  Pretty sweet, huh?