how do US professional runners (like at least sub 2:16 marathoner types) get health insurance?
You might be thinking that it'd be easy to get health insurance being a super healthy elite runner, but it actually ain't that easy if you're not part of a group plan. Even something such as acne can be enough to count as a pre-existing condition, thus disallowing you from purchasing individual health insurance.
I suppose if you run for an elite training group or distance project, you can be part of a group plan, so you're fine.
But say you're an individual elite runner who maybe makes 20K/year from a sponsor and relies on prize money at road races. Do they get decent health insurance?
If you're a sub 2:16 guy but you can't get a shoe deal yet, are you able to get health insurance? how does it work?