High Risk Health Insurance Plans
 Individual
states have legislated for the provision of High Risk Health Insurance
Plans called "risk pools" that provide health insurance coverage for
individuals who, because of their physical condition, are unable to
purchase heath insurance at any price. A state high risk health insurance
pool provides comprehensive benefits options to those who are unable
to purchase coverage through standard insurers, have a pre-qualifying
condition or are otherwise eligible. Pre-qualifying conditions may include:
- Chronic Kidney
Failure/Dialysis
- Cirrhosis
- HIV/AIDS
- Hemophilia
- Hydrocephalus
- Hodgkin's Disease
- Juvenile Diabetes
- Leukemia
- Major Organ
transplant
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More than
250,000 people have enrolled in High-risk health insurance plans or
"risk pools" in the 30 states since the first pools were started in
1976. Who is eligible to participate in a risk pool? Any person applying
for plan coverage must be a resident of that state. In addition to residency
requirements to obtain High Risk Health Insurance Plans, the individual
must show proof of at least one of the following:
- Individuals
must prove they have been rejected for High Risk Health Insurance
Plans by at least one insurer.
- State
residents are eligible for plan coverage even though they are currently
insured, if their present High Risk Health Insurance Plan has a higher
premium than offered under their plan.
- An
individual is eligible for a High Risk Health Insurance Plan even
though they are currently insured, if their present insurance has
a rider attached or is rated.
Many of the state plans do not allow an individual to apply for a
High Risk Health Insurance Plan if the individual is eligible for,
or receiving, Medicare or Medicaid. However, several states have adopted
a high-risk plan for Medicare eligible individuals.
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