Can health insurance pay/cover for a medical expensive from a time where you were not on it?

No, if they are uncovered at the time of any service provided, the patient will have to pay out of pocket. Think about the situation - someone could go without insurance and not pay premiums (which is what funds the insurance payments), get sick, get insurance, go to the doctor after making one premium payment, get treated, and then drop insurance. It would be like getting into a car accident without insurance, and then being able to get coverage for the accident - no one would carry insurance and the premiums for that short period of time would be so high (since the insurance company would have to cover all the expenses based on a minimal number of insurance premium payments) that you might as well pay cash.

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RE :Can health insurance pay/cover for a medical expensive from a time where you were not on it?

I have a co-worker friend who's slowly been coming under the weather and dealing with some side pain and passing kidney stones lately. Her family was covered with health insurance due to her husband's job but now that he's off on medical leave it won't cover everyone (herself and their two kids, him either I don't think as I think it's from a union thing - basically if he's not working they all aren't covered). If she goes to the hospital, gets checked out and when the bill comes back, will whatever insurance her husband have cover it once he goes back to work? He starts back in a week or two after his physical therapy sessions end.

Update: I was just wondering as it seems like a good question ask, not only on her behalf but just in general when it comes to situation like this.

Follow 8 answers

No. It will not cover her if she doesn't have it.

For her insurance, she is probably covered while I leave but she has to pay for it.

No insurance will pay for services provided prior to the effective date of coverage (or subsequent to termination of coverage). It's all about when the coverage is "in force."

He can continue paying the insurance, he just wouldn t receive the employer contribution. He could be on COBRA or he might just owe back his employer the premiums (which are normally payroll deductions).

The coverage should actually be just fine...

Of course not. If insurance covered retroactive, then what would be the point of having it at all?

No. That's like buying a lottery ticket today, for last night's drawing.

Nope not happening here legally

No