People Denied Health Insurance For Pre-Existing Conditions Have New Option
By Andrew Dougman / Nevada News Bureau
CARSON CITY – Nevadans denied health insurance for pre-existing conditions are now guaranteed coverage via a federally funded health insurance program.
In the past, it’s been either costly or impossible to find coverage if someone has a health condition requiring frequent or expensive treatment.
The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan ensures coverage for someone who has been denied coverage within the past six months.
As many as 19,000 Nevadans may be eligible to receive this coverage, said Marilyn Wells, director of the Governor’s Office of Consumer Health Assistance, an office whose staff help people navigate the health care system.
She said only 57 people have received coverage through the federal government plan since it began during September, 2010.
To qualify, a person must be a citizen or legal resident, have a pre-existing medical condition and can not have had health insurance during the past six months.
The plan also disqualifies people who currently receive Medicaid or Medicare benefits. Since the plan does come with some expense for its benefits, Wells said it’s aimed at middle-income individuals whose health insurance would be prohibitively expensive because of a pre-existing condition.
“Most people who have applied for regular insurance may be able to afford regular insurance, but when they are ‘upgraded’ because of their pre-exsiting condition, that makes their policy way out of line for them,” Wells said. “This brings it to more of a standard cost so it’s more affordable for them.”
The federal government has allocated $61 million to fund the program nationwide.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s health care law, mandates that insurers will not deny anyone for pre-existing conditions from 2014 on.
For now, though, this insurance plan is available as a “bridge” until that element of the law takes effect.
In the meantime, litigation surrounding the law continues in the federal court system.
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