Do insurance companies consider RA as a pre-existing condition?

Hello Whiskersvtwin, insurance companies usually have their own terms for what they define as a pre-existing condition. However, the standard accepted definition is usually a condition for which a patient has already received medical advice or treatment prior to enrollment in a new medical insurance plan. So by that definition, if you have received treatment or advice for RA, prior to enrolling in a new insurance plan, then it would be considered pre-existing.

However, medical insurance (and especially the wording and associated politics) can be very tricky territory. Be sure to direct any questions specific to your plan or coverage to your insurance provider so you can make the best informed decisions possible. Best of luck to you, insurance can certainly feel overwhelming to navigate, especially on top of the pain and fatigue that comes with RA. -Leanne, Community Moderator

Thanks for writing Whiskersvtwin. Your question is a complex one. In general, RA and other chronic conditions are considered pre-existing conditions. If a person is newly diagnosed, however, this may not apply. At that point, there are issues of whether a person was insured, uninsured, continued coverage, and probably other circumstances I'm not thinking of at the moment. I can't really comment on specific cases, as an individual would need speak to a specialist about that. This article from our editorial team looks at RA and health insurance: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living-with-ra/ra-and-health-insurance/. Hopefully some other community members can chime in with their experiences. Best, Richard (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)