Insurance for people with pre-existing conditions

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cycle-path
cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
edited June 2014 in Employment, Insurance, and Other Financial Issues

"The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, a $5 billion component of the president's health care reform bill, offers low-cost coverage to people who've spent six months or longer excluded from the individual insurance market because of conditions like diabetes, heart disease or cancer. The federal government runs the PCIP in 23 states, while the rest of the states handle it themselves."

Read the whole article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/17/pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan-enrollment-low_n_862954.html

Find out more about the program here:  http://finder.healthcare.gov/

Also: https://www.cms.gov/MedicaidSpecialCovCond/02_BreastandCervicalCancer_PreventionandTreatment.asp 

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  • Merilee
    Merilee Member Posts: 3,047
    edited May 2011

    Has anyone used this program?

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited May 2011

    A close relative was diagnosed with stage IV cancer (not breast cancer) a few days before she started a job with the state in the state of California.  She didn't have any health insurance.  This was in 2008.  They had a high-risk pool which they looked into.  At that time, *if* she was accepted into the pool (there was a waiting list), she'd have to pay about $500/month for 6 months before she got any benefits.  The maximum benefit/year was something like $50,000.  

    She decided to work for a few months on her job and use those medical benefits, then I'm not sure what happened (maybe Cobra) because she had lots of other financial issues going on (and still are going on.) 

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  • cycle-path
    cycle-path Member Posts: 1,502
    edited May 2011

    Just to be clear though, leaf, the The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan I mentioned in the original post is not the same plan as the one your relative investigated. 

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited May 2011

    You're right of course, cycle-path.  Thank you.

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  • Medigal
    Medigal Member Posts: 1,412
    edited May 2011

    I think in the US we are in a pathetic state with our no-insurance basically for people with pre-existing conditions who loose their jobs.  If one is lucky enough to be able to afford COBRA it is usually too expensive if you have lost your job!  I don't know why they can't open Medicare up to any one who can't afford other insurance no matter what age they are.  We need to have something done about this situation but it seems Washington is sitting on their hands!  It is truly a shame to our nation that we do this to our people who are sick!

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  • Fearless_One
    Fearless_One Member Posts: 3,300
    edited May 2011

    I agree with Medigal.    COBRA cost is just not an option for most people.  

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