Four years ago I retired to Ireland, where I have family. My sister put me on a family health insurance plan with Irish Life Health. Lately my left hip is giving trouble due to arthritis, needs a hip replacement operation. I’m concerned if any type of arthritis counts as a pre-existing condition or if they only consider the specific joint at this time. I had a replacement for a different joint nearly ten years ago in another country (unrelated health plan). The degeneration in my left hip is recent during the last two years, it’s entirely new. We asked Irish Life Health if this would be covered now but they simply recited ‘A pre-existing condition is... condition the signs or symptoms of which existed at any time in the six months before you took out health insurance..’ etc. Which doesn’t answer the question. Can anyone say if a hip op will likely be covered now or will I need to wait for the full five years? (thanks).