| States had until April 30, 2010 to notify | | | | matter their condition. States could be liable if the |
| Washington if they plan to participate in one of | | | | new law is not implemented on time or not at all. |
| the first government programs to be launched | | | | 2. The proposed risk pools charge the same |
| under the new health care reform law - high-risk | | | | premiums that healthy people pay. Most existing |
| pools for the uninsured. At the deadline the states | | | | high risk pools currently in place at the state level |
| that declined to administer risk pools are Alabama, | | | | charge between 125% -200% of market rates to |
| Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, | | | | cover the potential risk. |
| Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, | | | | 3. The proposed risk pools will have no waiting |
| North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, | | | | period. Existing high risk pools have waiting periods |
| Virginia and Wyoming, according to The Health | | | | before someone could participate of 3 months or |
| and Human Services Department. 16 of the 18 | | | | longer to protect against an individual waiting to |
| States are run by Republican Governors and 2 by | | | | jump in until they have a serious condition |
| Democratic Governors. | | | | requiring medical care. |
| Why did these states opt out of this glorious | | | | 4. The Proposed risk pools will only cover those |
| offering? Because: | | | | individuals who have been without any health |
| 1. Although there is $5 Billion allocated for | | | | insurance coverage for longer than 6 months. |
| distribution to the participating states they are | | | | Those who have been responsible and continuing |
| being asked to participate in the actual costs | | | | coverage through COBRA, an existing high risk |
| associated with the program. | | | | pool, or their own private health insurance plan are |
| 2. The program is slated to run through 2013 | | | | out of luck. The proposed risk pools will only be |
| when the new provision requiring health insurance | | | | for those who have either been unable to get |
| carriers to cover everyone regardless of their | | | | coverage or to reward those who have chosen |
| condition begin but there is no guarantee this will | | | | not to pay for their own coverage. |
| occur. This leaves the states vulnerable to | | | | We do not want a system that encourages |
| additional costs and the potential of having to | | | | people to be free-loaders leaving others to pick |
| revamp or shut down the program all together. | | | | up the tab. This is why the main function of the |
| The new high-risk program is essentially insurance | | | | pool should be to enable people who have been |
| for individuals who have pre-existing conditions | | | | continuously insured to receive some relief. |
| and are either uninsurable or expensive to insure. | | | | I would encourage you to read Ten Small-Scale |
| So why would the states choose to opt out? | | | | Reforms For Pre-existing Chronic Conditions By |
| Here are a few reasons: | | | | John Goodman to learn a much better alternative |
| 1. The new program is only meant to bridge the | | | | to high risk pools for people with preexisting |
| gap from where we are now to 2014 when | | | | conditions. |
| health plans will have to accept everyone no | | | | |