1
Limited space will make some miss high-risk insurance
Health insurance
To view this content, Javascript must be enabled and Adobe Flash Player must be installed.
TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: An important part of the health care reform law goes into effect today. In some states, people can apply to get into high-risk insurance pools today. The pools are intended to provide temporary insurance until the law fully takes effect in 2014. Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer reports the application process is complicated and not everyone will get in.
Nancy Marshall Genzer: The health care reform law will prohibit insurers from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition -- but not until 2014. The temporary high-risk pools are envisioned as a bridge to 2014. But there won't be room for everyone. Vivian Ho is a health care economist at Rice University:
Vivian Ho: There is going to have to be a limit on the number of individuals who have pre-existing conditions who are going to be able to sign up for this particular program. There just isn't enough money.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, if there's no limit, federal funding for the temporary high-risk pools will run out by 2013. So, the uninsured should apply right away. Some of the pools will be administered by the states. Others by the federal government.
Richard Cauchi is a health policy expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. He says the federal government is launching a new website today, in an effort to reduce confusion.
Richard Cauchi: A state will often create a new program, the the real challenge is to get the word out in a positive, effective, media marketing style.
The website will let you compare insurance plans, and figure out if you're eligible for the temporary high-risk pool.
In Washington, I'm Nancy Marshall Genzer for Marketplace.
You guys should stop complaining cuz one the health care we have now isnt as good as it was supposed to be. also the law has just been signed give it a try u guys are too hard on democrats they went to college and we voted for most of these people.so if u want to say u have the right to choose tell that to ur congress men or state official. as for obama people are just tryin to make it look like america made a mistake he has done things to help us and we had a full 8 years of a terrible president and i will be so as happy as ever when a obama fixes bush's mistakes. You can find full medical coverage at the lowest price from http://bit.ly/9sfoMb obama has to put up with the wo0rld judging his every move and trying to fix the mess we are in we are lucky anyone wants to be our president. STOP COMPLAINING AND GIVE HIM A BREAK. i wanna see one of yall do what he sas done. some people are just so ignorant.
