The problem with the OLD STYLE health insurance, YES ... prior medical issues would cause a NEW POLICY to be rated as AT A HIGHER RISK FACTOR (higher rate). As I did NOT change policies in the past 2 years, I did not change my risk factor rating. And think if your were in a large group, it was the large "group's" combined Risk Factor. Individual, small or family policy holders got zap.
For ACH, there is NOT PRIOR risk factor or future risk factor -- you pay for WHAT you can afford in a policy as for options. You can not be denied - I did the applications and it DID NOT ask me for my prior health history or prior (or if I even had a) health insurance policy in effect now.
Good to know... thanks to you, Ken, and geekette for the quick response.