| If you have a pre-existing condition that carries high | | | | Not every state offers risk pools, but most do. |
| risks for your insurance company, you may have | | | | There are risk pools in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, |
| trouble finding an affordable health plan. In fact, | | | | California, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, |
| companies are not forced to insure you. If you are | | | | Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, |
| too risky, they can reject your application. | | | | Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, |
| More than half of all insured people get their | | | | New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, |
| insurance from their companies. Group insurance plans | | | | South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, |
| reduce risk by sharing the cost equally. But, what if | | | | Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming. |
| you can't get into a group plan? | | | | Each state's risk pool varies. You definitely have to |
| States offer a type of health plan called "risk pools." | | | | be a resident of the state in which you apply. Other |
| Risk pools are intended to provide insurance to the | | | | than that, the requirements are different in each |
| uninsurable. | | | | state. In order to qualify, they may require that you |
| What Is A Risk Pool? | | | | prove that you've been rejected by an insurance |
| First, let's look at how group insurance works. Even | | | | provider because of a high health risk. |
| risky individuals can be covered under group health | | | | In most states, you can't get a risk pool health plan if |
| insurance at little cost to insurance companies | | | | you qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Some states |
| because everyone shares expenses and risks. When | | | | also have an enrollment cap, meaning that they will |
| the company has to shell out extra for claims made | | | | only accept a certain number of applicants to the |
| by a certain individual, the rate of the whole group | | | | program each year. |
| goes up. | | | | Risk pools are operated by non-profit healthcare |
| With individual health plans, there is no group. It's just | | | | organizations. Currently, almost 200,000 people are |
| you. So, private insurance companies look at your | | | | enrolled in risk pools, which is not a large number if |
| medical history and risks. This is what determines | | | | you consider how many Americans are uninsured. |
| your rate. | | | | Some states, like Tennessee, are starting to have |
| A risk pool is like a group of all the people within a | | | | special programs for kids and specific diseases like |
| certain state who can't get private insurance because | | | | diabetes. |
| of pre-existing conditions and other health risks. It | | | | Risk pools are convenient for individuals who are |
| works in much the same way as group insurance | | | | having trouble getting insured. You can take out a |
| does, except that the group in this case is not the | | | | short-term plan to cover a gap in your employment |
| company, but all the individuals in the state who can't | | | | or insurance. |
| get insured. | | | | If you have a pre-existing condition that puts you at |
| Because they are obviously risky, risk pools cost | | | | high risk, you may feel like you should stick with your |
| more than regular insurance. This is not a government | | | | group plan so that you can stay covered. This might |
| support program like Medicare or Medicaid aimed at | | | | mean staying at a lousy job that you would just as |
| low-income earners. Risk pools are usually quite | | | | soon ditch otherwise. Risk pools offer you more |
| expensive. | | | | choices for your health insurance coverage. |
| Does My State Have A Risk Pool? | | | | |