In Iowa, as in many other states, your health insurance options are somewhat dependent on your health status.  Even if you are sick, however, the laws protect you in the following ways.

• Coverage under your group health plan (if your employer offers one) cannot be denied or limited, nor can you be required to pay more, because of your health status. This is called nondiscrimination.
• All group health plans in Iowa must limit exclusion of pre-existing conditions. There are rules about what counts as a pre-existing condition and how long you must wait before a new group health plan will begin to pay for care for that condition. Generally, if you join a new group health plan your old coverage will be credited toward the pre-existing condition exclusion period, provided you did not have a long break in coverage.
• Your health insurance cannot be canceled because you get sick. All health insurance is guaranteed renewable.
• If you leave your job, you may be able to remain in your old group health plan for a certain length of time. This is called COBRA or state continuation coverage. It can help when you are between jobs or waiting for a new health plan to cover your pre-existing condition. There are limits on what you can be charged for this coverage.
• If you are HIPAA eligible or have been denied individual insurance because of your health status, you can buy coverage from the Iowa Comprehensive Health Association (HIP-IOWA). There are limits on what you can be charged for an HIP-IOWA policy. However, depending on how you become eligible, you may face a new pre-existing condition exclusion period.
• If you are a current Basic and Standard policy holder, you have the option to purchase coverage from HIP-IOWA or maintain your current coverage.
• If you lose your group health plan, you may also be able to buy a conversion policy. You will not face a new pre-existing condition exclusion period.
• If you are a small employer buying a small group health plan, you cannot be turned down because of the health status, age, or any other factor that might predict the use of health services of those in your group. All health plans for small employers must be sold on a guaranteed issue basis. Premiums can vary, within limits, based on the health status of your group.
• If you have low or modest household income, you may be eligible for free or subsidized health coverage for yourself or members of your family. The Iowa Medicaid program offers free health coverage for certain families, children, pregnant women, elderly, and disabled individuals.
• If you believe that you may be at risk for breast or cervical cancer, you may be eligible for free screening and treatment. The Care for Yourself program, the Iowa Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, provides qualified women with free breast and cervical cancer screenings. Women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through this program may be eligible for treatment through Medicaid.
• If your child is 19 years or younger, does not have health insurance, and meets other qualifications, you may be able to receive low cost or free health insurance for them through the Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (hawk-I).
• If you lost your health insurance and are receiving benefits from the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) Program, you may be eligible for a federal income tax credit to help you pay for new health coverage. This credit is called the Health Coverage Tax Credit, and is equal to 65% of the cost of qualified coverage, including COBRA and coverage offered through HIP-IOWA.
• If you are a retiree aged 55-65 and receiving benefits from Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), then you may be eligible for the HCTC.