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