Maine Health Insurance Laws That Benefit the Individual

Maine has some of the strictest health insurance laws in the entire country. Maine health insurance laws greatly benefit the individual over the health insurance companies. Unlike in most other states, Maine health insurance law states that every individual is entitled to receive health insurance regardless of his or her age or health. This strict regulation makes it easier and more affordable for individuals to maintain Maine health insurance coverage.

The pre-existing condition laws regarding Maine health insurance are also very strict. Maine health insurance companies define pre-existing conditions as any illness that was treated within six months prior to the individual’s obtaining of a new Maine health insurance policy. Maine health insurance companies are allowed to impose an exclusion period during which they will not pay pre-existing condition claims, but this period cannot last for more than one year.

Maine health insurance law regarding premiums is also quite different from many states. Gender and health cannot be considered when Maine health insurance companies decide on their monthly premiums. However, Maine health insurance companies can consider an individual’s age or whether or not he or she smokes when calculating adequate premiums. In these cases, Maine health insurance are allowed to charge up to twenty percent more or less than the established mean rate, which is called a community rate. Because premiums still differ from company to company, it is important to explore all of your options when deciding on a Maine health insurance company.

Maine health insurance policies have built-in guaranteed renewability. This means that a Maine health insurance policy cannot be canceled due to the policyholders illness, age or other risk factors. Once a Maine health insurance customer has signed up for a term, that term becomes renewable every year unless he or she has failed to pay his or her premiums.

Maine health insurance companies are required to offer two standardized health plans that were created by state agencies. These basic plans insure that at least minimal coverage is provided to all Maine health insurance applicants regardless of their health statuses. These regulations guarantee that any individual who applies for Maine health insurance has access to at least a basic plan. Maine health insurance regulations also insure that Maine health insurance is fairly affordable. This eliminates the need for the special programs made available in other states for people who are denied coverage due to illness or who cannot afford their high-priced health insurance premiums. With Maine health insurance laws, the community rate system works to keep all Maine health insurance policies affordable and to keep most of the state’s workers adequately insured.

Because Maine health insurance regulations are so strict, it is easier to find adequate coverage. Rather than comparing the rates of several Maine health insurance companies, you can rest assured that premiums will be fairly similar between companies. However, there are differences in the amount of extra coverage plans that Maine health insurance companies can provide in addition to the two standardized plans, so it is still worthwhile to shop around before deciding on you Maine health insurance provider.

Maine Health Insurance Laws That Benefit the Individual

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