Applied for health insurance, 2-4 week wait, kicks in retroactive to date applied?

Health insurance is so complicated, and there are so many differences between packages and states, that you really need to call the help phone number for your insurance company and ask these questions. I think you will be covered retroactively if you are approved, but you can never tell for sure. You might need to be married for a family plan that would include your girlfriend. Insurance companies exclude all kinds of things so you should not be surprised by anything. What you have to remember is that the goal of a company that provides health insurance is not really to pay for your health needs. Their goal is to pay out as little as possible and to make as much money as possible.