20% To 66% Of U.S. Adult Population Estimated To Have Pre-Existing Health Conditions

Between 36 million to 122 million adults between the ages of 18 and 64 in the United States would qualify as having a pre-existing health condition; the estimate represents between 20% and 66% of the 184 million adult population in 2009. The range is due to differences in how researchers and health plans define pre-existing conditions. The most commonly reported chronic health conditions that could result in a health insurer denying coverage, requiring higher-than-average premiums, or restricting coverage with an exclusionary rider were hypertension (reported by 33.2 million adults), mental health disorders (reported by 19 . . .