Is the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Working?
<p>A recent government report on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)—created to provide temporary access to health coverage for people with medical conditions—found overall enrollment is lower than projected. </p>
<p>In a <a href="/blog/2011/pre-existing-condition-insurance-plan-working">new blog post,</a> Jean Hall, Ph.D., an associate research professor at the University of Kansas, takes a close look at the drivers of PCIP enrollment. State enrollment numbers, she says, are significantly influenced by the restriction in eligibility to those uninsured for six months, the number of uninsured and availability of prior preexisting insurance coverage in each state, the high cost of coverage, and other factors. </p>
<p>Some changes are under way to attract more enrollees. For example, the federally administered plans have aggressively pursued reducing premium costs within program guidelines to maximize affordability of coverage. </p>
<p>"While the PCIP is not enrolling everyone potentially eligible, enrollment continues to grow and the program will continue to provide critically needed coverage to thousands of people until the major coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act go into effect in 2014," Halls writes. </p>
<p>Visit <a href="~/link.aspx?_id=0B67ACA7A5CB453CB876F3DB59E19448&_z=z">The Commonwealth Fund Blog</a> to learn more. <br /></p>