In Utah, 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 Utah must limit exclusion of pre-existing conditions. There are rules about when a pre-existing condition exclusion period can be applied and how long you must wait before a new health plan will begin to pay for care for that condition. Generally, if you join a new 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. Most 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 lose your group health plan coverage, you also may be able to buy a conversion policy. This is an individual policy from the company that insured your former group. You will not face a new pre-existing condition exclusion period. There are limits on what you can be charged for a conversion policy.
• If you lose your group health plan and meet other qualifications, you will be HIPAA eligible. If so, you can buy individual health insurance either from the Utah Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool (HIPUtah) or an individual market insurer. There are limits on what you can be charged for a HIPUtah policy.
• If you apply to buy individual health insurance from a private insurer and you are turned down, you can buy health insurance from HIPUtah. In addition, because HIPUtah only covers very sick individuals, if you do not qualify as a high health risk, you will be given a certificate of insurability that will guarantee you the right to buy an individual health insurance policy from a private insurance company.
• There are limits on what you can be charged for individual health insurance.
• If you are a small employer buying a group health insurance policy, you cannot be turned down because of the health status, age, or any 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.
• If you are a small employer buying a group health insurance policy, there are limits on what you can be charged due to the health status, age, gender, or occupation of those in 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 Utah Medicaid program offers free health coverage for pregnant women, families with children, and elderly and disabled individuals with very low incomes.
• If your children are 18 years old or younger, do not have health insurance and meet other qualifications, you may be able to buy insurance for them through a program which is part of Medicaid called Children’s Health Insurance Program.
• If you believe that you may be at risk for breast or cervical cancer, you may be eligible for free screening and treatment. The Utah Cancer Control Program provides qualified women with free breast and cervical cancer screening. Some women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through this program may be eligible for medical care through Medicaid.
• 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 (HCTC), and is equal to 65% of the cost of qualified coverage, including COBRA, state continuation coverage and a policy offered by the State of Utah Department of Workforce Services.
• If you are a retiree aged 55-65 and receiving benefits from Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), then you may be eligible for the HCTC.