Utah Health Insurance Regulations

• If you live in Utah, make sure you understand the state's health insurance regulations.healthcare concept image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  Health insurance is a very important part of many Americans' financial plan. It provides some measure of protection against financial ruin due to major health problems. Health insurance is largely regulated at the state level, so Utah residents should know about the specific laws governing health insurance in their state.
  
  

Guaranteed Renewability

• All Utah health insurance policies are guaranteed to be renewable as long as you have paid your premiums on time and have not provided any false information on your application, according to Healthinsuranceindepth.com. This is significant if you have serious health problems, since the insurance company cannot cancel your health insurance when you may need it the most.
  
  

Pre-existing Conditions

• A pre-existing condition is a medical problem that you've been diagnosed with at least six months before you health insurance policy takes effect. Health insurance companies doing business in Utah are not allowed to exclude pre-existing conditions for more than 12 months. This may exclude some medical conditions you have when you first sign up for health insurance, but after 12 months, those conditions must be covered by your insurance company.
  
  However, insurance companies in Utah can get around the law with an "elimination rider" on a policy that makes it possible to refuse coverage for a specific pre-existing condition permanently, according to Healthinsuranceindepth.com.
  
  If you are switching health insurance policies, your old policy's exclusion period is credited to your new policy's exclusion period.
  
  

Policy Choices

• Each health insurance company doing business in Utah must offer you a choice of at least three policies, with varying deductible amounts.
  
  

Coverage for Children

• If an individual policy provides coverage for dependents, newborns and adopted children are automatically covered for 31 days, according to Healthinsuranceindepth.com. Dependents who are disabled can be covered under a parent's health insurance policy, even if they're older than the usual age limit for coverage.
  
  

Denial of Insurance

• Health insurance companies in Utah can deny you coverage due to your health.