AHIP conditionally endorses coverage for pre-existing conditions

This "policy shift' on the part of AHIP is actually several months old. The original AHIP proposal appearing on their website called for immediate coverage acceptance for applicants with pre-existing conditions based on a 50% penalty over regular insurance premium rates for such individuals. There was no reference to universal coverage being a precondition for coverage acceptance.
I question if this means that individuals with pre-existing conditions would gain coverage at the same rates as people with no pre-existings so long as the entire population was covered?
This would actually make sense from an actuarial standpoint. This is the way that employer-sponsored coverage works right now - new employees are accepted regardless of pre-existings.
Mandated universal coverage will have to be the way to go if the private insurance sector is to be involved as primary health insurer for the pre-Medicare population.
Howard S.