About 33.2 million adults reported having hypertension in 2009, making it the most common medical condition that could disqualify Americans from securing health insurance coverage.
From 36 to 122 million Americans had some type of pre-existing condition that could lead to denial of coverage, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. While only 18 percent of adults between the ages of 19 and 64 reported hypertension, they spent an average of $650 per person per year on treatment. The most spent was $61,540, suggesting some may spend significantly more or less than that average, however.
After hypertension, the most common conditions which could cause insurers to decide against providing coverage were mental health disorders, followed by diabetes. Some insurers may have chosen to take on consumers as clients with the understanding that they would, temporarily or permanently, not provide coverage for the pre-existing condition.
Although some state laws mandate that coverage be extended to those with pre-existing conditions, the majority of Americans are not affected by those laws. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act includes a provision that will prevent insurers from taking such conditions into account once it goes into effect, scheduled to occur in 2014. Opponents of this measure say it will cause employee benefit and personal coverage to become more expensive, though supporters of the PPACA have stated that other changes will offset the financial impact.
