| If you have a pre-existing condition that carries | | | | Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Colorado, |
| high risks for your insurance company, you may | | | | Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, |
| have trouble finding an affordable health plan. In | | | | Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, |
| fact, companies are not forced to insure you. If | | | | Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, |
| you are too risky, they can reject your | | | | North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, |
| application. More than half of all insured people get | | | | Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia |
| their insurance from their companies. Group | | | | and Wyoming. Each state's risk pool varies. You |
| insurance plans reduce risk by sharing the cost | | | | definitely have to be a resident of the state in |
| equally. But, what if you can't get into a group | | | | which you apply. Other than that, the |
| plan? States offer a type of health plan called | | | | requirements are different in each state. In order |
| "risk pools." Risk pools are intended to provide | | | | to qualify, they may require that you prove that |
| insurance to the uninsurable. What Is A Risk Pool? | | | | you've been rejected by an insurance provider |
| First, let's look at how group insurance works. | | | | because of a high health risk. In most states, you |
| Even risky individuals can be covered under group | | | | can't get a risk pool health plan if you qualify for |
| health insurance at little cost to insurance | | | | Medicare or Medicaid. Some states also have an |
| companies because everyone shares expenses | | | | enrollment cap, meaning that they will only accept |
| and risks. When the company has to shell out | | | | a certain number of applicants to the program |
| extra for claims made by a certain individual, the | | | | each year. Risk pools are operated by non-profit |
| rate of the whole group goes up. With individual | | | | healthcare organizations. Currently, almost 200,000 |
| health plans, there is no group. It's just you. So, | | | | people are enrolled in risk pools, which is not a |
| private insurance companies look at your medical | | | | large number if you consider how many |
| history and risks. This is what determines your | | | | Americans are uninsured. Some states, like |
| rate. A risk pool is like a group of all the people | | | | Tennessee, are starting to have special programs |
| within a certain state who can't get private | | | | for kids and specific diseases like diabetes. Risk |
| insurance because of pre-existing conditions and | | | | pools are convenient for individuals who are |
| other health risks. It works in much the same | | | | having trouble getting insured. You can take out a |
| way as group insurance does, except that the | | | | short-term plan to cover a gap in your |
| group in this case is not the company, but all the | | | | employment or insurance. If you have a |
| individuals in the state who can't get insured. | | | | pre-existing condition that puts you at high risk, |
| Because they are obviously risky, risk pools cost | | | | you may feel like you should stick with your |
| more than regular insurance. This is not a | | | | group plan so that you can stay covered. This |
| government support program like Medicare or | | | | might mean staying at a lousy job that you would |
| Medicaid aimed at low-income earners. Risk pools | | | | just as soon ditch otherwise. Risk pools offer you |
| are usually quite expensive. Does My State Have | | | | more choices for your health insurance coverage. |
| A Risk Pool? Not every state offers risk pools, | | | | You can also find more info on Long Term Health |
| but most do. There are risk pools in Alabama, | | | | Insurance and Short Term Health Insurance. |