High-Risk Pools
Explanation
One of the first provisions to go into effect under the Affordable Care Act was the creation of a temporary high-risk pool program to offer coverage to otherwise uninsurable individuals. The program is an interim measure designed to increase access to insurance for individuals with pre-existing conditions until the guaranteed issue and health insurance exchange provisions take effect in 2014. The law appropriates $5 billion in federal funds to run the state pools, allocated among the states using a formula similar to that for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Questions and answers
- Who is eligible to buy coverage through the new risk pools?
- Can people move from more expensive insurance to the new risk pools?
- What are the benefits?
Related Resources
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