Clinical Definition

A pre-existing condition is any diagnosis or treatment of a medical condition that occurred prior to enrollment in a healthcare plan. In the past, individual insurance companies may have put different time limits on pre-existing conditions for exclusion and rate purposes.

In Our Own Words

A pre-existing condition refers to a medical condition a person has before enrolling in a health care plan. In some instances, companies may have excluded or charged higher rates for individuals who had pre-existing conditions. In the United States, health care reform laws now prevent insurance companies from denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition.