Pre-Existing Condition Policy Clarified

Under the FLTCIP, pre-existing conditions may disqualify an applicant from qualifying for coverage, but if an applicant qualifies, they won’t affect eligibility for benefits. OPM notes that all applicants have to pass underwriting, which consists of answering health questions and possibly authorizing access to medical records and/or an interview by a registered nurse. But once an application is approved and a person later becomes eligible to draw benefits, benefits are paid regardless of whether the pre-existing condition is the reason the person became eligible.