Health insurance glossary
Guaranteed-issue vs medically underwritten
Plain-English definition
A guaranteed-issue health plan accepts you without health questions, usually with lower maximums, more exclusions or a higher price. A medically underwritten plan asks health questions first, and your answers decide whether you are accepted and on what terms. Guaranteed-issue describes how you get in; it does not mean every claim is paid, and pre-existing conditions may still be limited.
By the HealthRate editorial desk
How it works
Underwritten plans can offer broader coverage to people who qualify, but may decline an applicant or exclude a condition.
Guaranteed-issue plans commonly limit coverage for conditions you already have, for example by excluding them for a period or capping what is paid.
With an underwritten plan, accurate answers matter: an inaccurate answer found at claim time can affect the claim.
Why it matters
People with a health condition often have to choose between a plan that accepts them and a plan that covers more. Knowing which kind you are looking at explains the price and the exclusions.