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