Next Steps in High-Risk Pool Program
By Jenny Backus, Acting Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
The temporary high-risk pool program will help Americans with pre-existing conditions who have been denied coverage for far too long, finally have access to affordable options. The program is a bridge to 2014, when all Americans will be able to choose from additional coverage options through the health insurance exchanges.
States are important partners in moving this program forward and are working closely with HHS to get the high-risk pools set up as soon as possible. Nearly all states have indicated how they want to move forward in setting up this program – either by operating it themselves or having HHS operate it for them. A summary of those responses are below.
States that intend to operate their own high-risk pool program:
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Washington State
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
States that have elected to have HHS run the high-risk pool program:
- Alabama
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wyoming
States that have requested an application and will make decision thereafter:
- Rhode Island
- Utah
States who have not indicated their intentions to HHS:
- Arizona
