title: Insurability issues facing the adolescent and adult with congenital heart disease.
abstract: Access to comprehensive health care coverage for congenital heart disease patients is often limited because of their "preexisting condition." Life insurance may be difficult to obtain if the congenital lesion carries a higher than standard mortality rating. Various insurance program options are available to many of these patients. Knowledgeable health care professionals can assist these individuals to obtain the needed coverage, enabling better medical and financial security for this growing patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Nursing, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60611.
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Hellstedt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007352:Insurance, Life / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States