An estimated 54 million Americans ages 19 to 64 have a pre-existing condition that qualifies as a “potentially declinable” illness or disorder, according to a report by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). With recent changes to the tax code, increased premium costs, cases of health insurance fraud and legal challenges to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the US health care industry could return to a system where would-be policyholders pay higher rates for pre-existing conditions. Some people could be denied coverage completely. MoneyGeek crunched the numbers on the KFF report and concluded that 12.5 million Americans with potentially declinable health conditions could be impacted by a policy change. These people with pre-existing conditions are either uninsured or obtain coverage through the ACA Marketplace.
These are the states with the most people at risk of losing coverage if regulations around pre-existing conditions are changed.
15. South Dakota
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 36,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 7.20%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 123,000
14. Nebraska
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 75,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 6.80%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 295,000
13. Idaho
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 83,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 8.40%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 259,000
12. Arkansas
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 138,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 8.00%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 597,000
11. Mississippi
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 162,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 9.50%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 593,000
10. Louisiana
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 201,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 7.40%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 932,000
9. Oklahoma
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 214,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 9.50%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 718,000
8. South Carolina
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 240,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 8.20%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 914,000
7. Alabama
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 249,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 8.80%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 957,000
6. Missouri
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 261,00
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 7.30%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 1,079,000
5. Tennessee
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 326,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 8.20%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 1,302,000
4. North Carolina
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 478,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 7.90%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 1,762,000
3. Georgia
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 508,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 8.10%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 1,805,000
2. Florida
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 1,209,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 9.90%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 3,526,000
1. Texas
- At-risk residents (pre-existing conditions directly insured or uninsured): 1,566,000
- Percentage of total state population with pre-existing conditions: 9.30%
- Residents with declinable pre-existing conditions: 4,794,000
Jeff Ostrowski is a writer for MoneyGeek. A veteran business journalist, he also writes about money for the Palm Beach Post in Florida. Ostrowski is proud to say he knows how to use a financial calculator to amortize a mortgage.
Sources
HealthInsurance.org. “ Florida health insurance marketplace: history and news of the state’s exchange.” Accessed March 3, 2020.