A project of the George Washington University's Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

GAO releases study on pre-existing condition insurance plans

Posted on July 30, 2011 | No Comments

PDF Version
Details
Library
Key Developments
Implementation Briefs

The Affordable Care Act appropriated $5 billion to create the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program, which provides insurance for such individuals until new protections take effect in 2014. 27 states opted to run their own PCIPs, while 23 states and the District of Columbia opted to let the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) run the PCIPs for their residents. Through their study “Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans: Program Features, Early Enrollment and Spending Trends, and Federal Oversight Activities,” the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined 1) PCIP features, premiums, and criteria for demonstrating a pre-existing condition, 2) trends in PCIP enrollment and spending, including administrative costs, and 3) federal oversight activities. The GAO found that state and federally run PCIPs generally had similar cost sharing arrangements. Coverage limits were common but varied, both in terms of the benefits affected and the extent of the limits. Monthly premiums ranged considerably and were generally higher in the federally run PCIP. Enrollment and spending for state and federally run PCIPs have been significantly lower than initial projections. Spending was also lower than anticipated.

No Comments

Leave a Comment

Individuals who buy coverage directly from a health insurer are often denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition during a process called medical underwriting, which assesses an applicant’s health status and other risk factors. Beginning January 1, 2014, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) prohibits health insurers in the individual market from denying coverage, increasing premiums, or restricting benefits because of a pre-existing condition. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined the effect of this provision on adults who are 19-64 years old in a new report released today. GAO examined (1) the most common medical conditions that would cause an insurance company to restrict or deny insurance coverage for adults and the average annual costs associated with these conditions, (2) estimates of the number of adults with pre-existing conditions, and (3) the geographic and demographic profile of adults with pre-existing conditions. To address these three issues...
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report comparing the early stages of the federal Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) with the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The federal PCIP was authorized by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and is intended to provide insurance for individuals with previously existing medical conditions who have been unable to obtain health insurance coverage for at least 6 months. GAO was tasked by the Senate with comparing early enrollment and implementation across both PCIP and CHIP. GAO found that like CHIP, enrollment in PCIP was slow in the beginning, but increased over time. GAO also found that enrollment in PCIP was generally lower in States that had high risk pools than in States that did not. For more information on pre-existing conditions, click here.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA's) Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program is providing insurance to nearly 50,000 people with high-risk pre-existing conditions nationwide. HHS released a new report demonstrating how PCIP is helping to fill a void in the insurance market for consumers with pre-existing conditions who are denied insurance coverage and are ineligible for Medicare or Medicaid coverage.
The Department of Health and Human Services has published interim final rules on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan Program.
The Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled the premiums for people participating in the health reform law's federally administered high-risk pools.
Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Jenny Backus has released the following statement clarifying abortion coverage in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans:
On July 1, the Department of Health and Human Services will open a new "Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan" available to those who have been denied insurance, which the federal government will operate in 21 states. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia are operating their own high risk pools, all of which will be operational by the end of August. A link at Healthcare.gov allows those seeking coverage to find out how the plan works in their state.
Provides funding for a temporary high-risk health insurance pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions.