federal government is working with States on High-Risk Health Insurance Pools

federal government is working with States on High-Risk Health Insurance Pools -

The US Department of Health and Human Services three months after the adoption of the Medicare bill in the Senate to implement health insurance pools for high-risk. High risk pools are a temporary measure and will be effective until 2014. After 2014, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to people with health insurance because of pre-existing conditions.

The HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote to governors and state insurance commissioners to establish the rules for the programs last week by The Wall Street Journal . Secretary Sebelius states offer five different options for swimming pools.

States will have to choose one of the following:

• States with existing high-risk pools (about 34 states) can add a new pool;
• states that do not have existing high-risk pools will begin pools;
• States can build on other programs to cover high-risk adults;
• States may contract a carrier to provide coverage, or;
• If a state prefers to do nothing, HHS will implement coverage in the state.

States have had a rough history with high-risk pools and the success of these pools is often debated. Only adults who were without health insurance plans for at least six months and have a pre-existing condition can reach high-risk pools.

The Medicare plans should operate by 1 July 2010, which presents the HHS with a challenge. Many critics do not believe that the HHS has enough time to implement high-risk pools and that $ 5 billion will not be enough to make affordable high risk pools.

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