High-Risk Pools Start Accepting Applications

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) creates new high risk health insurance plan in each state that covers individuals not already covered by existing high risk pools or other health insurance.  States had the option to either partner with the federal government to administer PECIP or to allow the federal government to run it independently.  PECIP is not meant to replace existing high-risk pool but, is meant to serve as a bridge to 2014 when more insurance market reforms and exchanges are established.

 

Some states such as Florida, Texas, and South Carolina, which already have their own high-risk pool, have elected to let the federal government administer PECIP.  In these states, there will be a federal and a state pool.  Similarly, states like Virginia, Delaware, and Arizona, which did not have their own high-risk pool, have elected to let the federal government administer PECIP; thus, in these states, there will only be a federal pool.  Residents of states with PECIP, which began accepting applications on July 1, 2010, can apply for the plan at http://www.pcip.gov/.

 

Other states have decided to use the federal funds to manage the federal plans themselves.  States, such as North Carolina, California, and Connecticut, which already have their own high-risk pool, will now have two state-run plans for high-risk individuals.  For example, North Carolina will continue its state-run Inclusive Health plan and start covering applicants under the new Inclusive Health -Federal Option plan this August.  Similarly, states like Maine, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, which previously did not have a state-run plan, will manage the federally funded plan.  Some states have already begun accepting applications for their new plans; to apply for a plan visit the state department of health's website.

 

Click here for a full list of State and PECIP options.