Making Health Reform a Reality for You: Creating Temporary High Risk Pools

Taking our first step to implement the new health insurance reform law, HHS reached out to states to create temporary high risk pools for people living with pre-existing conditions. Many Americans are uninsured because they have a pre-existing condition, rendering them unable to qualify for health coverage in the private insurance market. The new health insurance reform law seeks to expand coverage to these individuals through temporary high risk pool programs.

Last week, HHS took an important first step toward the creation of these temporary high risk pools. In a letter to Governors and Insurance Commissioners last Friday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asked if states were interested in temporary high risk pool program established by the new health insurance reform law.

In the letter, she told the leaders that states may choose whether and how they participate in the program. She stressed that by working with states to establish temporary high risk pool programs, we can all ensure that more Americans get the coverage they need for themselves and their families.

As the letter says:

As you are aware, on March 23, 2010, the President signed into law H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148).  As the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) begins the monumental task of implementing this historic legislation, I look forward to working in partnership with you as we transform the nation’s health care system.  I would like to draw your attention to one of the immediate changes that will be implemented this year.   Section 1101 of the new law establishes a “temporary high risk health insurance pool program” to provide health insurance coverage to currently uninsured individuals with pre-existing conditions. The law directs HHS to carry out the program directly or through contracts with states or private, non-profit entities. 

We are interested in building upon existing state programs in this important initiative to provide expanded access to health coverage for individuals who cannot otherwise obtain health insurance. To that end, I am writing you today to request an expression of your state’s interest in participating in this temporary high risk pool program, consistent with one of the implementation options described below.