The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is a government program, established under the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 [link], aimed at extending health care coverage to individuals who may otherwise be denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
PCIP is aimed at providing coverage to people who have been uninsured for at least 6 months. To be eligible, you must have a pre-existing condition or must have been denied coverage due to your health condition.
Coverage under PCIP will continue until 2014, when health insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
PCIP is a great help for those who qualify. Enrollees pay premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts without having to worry about whether pre-existing conditions will cause their payments to rise. For people with pre-existing conditions who have major medical and prescription drug expenses, PCIP can be a lifesaver.
Who qualifies?
- If you’re a US citizen or legal resident, you qualify for the Pre-Existing Insurance Plan if you have a pre-existing medical condition and have been uninsured for the last 6 months.
- You don’t qualify for PCIP if you currently have ANY health coverage or are enrolled in a state high risk pool.
- PCIP is administered both by certain states and by the federal government.
At present the federally-run PCIP states are:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
The District of Columbia also participates in the federally-run program.
If you live in a state that does not participate in the federally-administered PCIP, visit the PCIP State Information Homepage for information about your state’s PCIP. Pcip.gov is also a great place to check out the costs and benefits of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan.
If you’ve been denied health coverage due to pre-existing conditions, don’t delay. Gather the documents you’ll need in order to apply for PCIP so that you can get the health care protection you’re due.
While you’re looking for the best healthcare protection available, you’ll want to check out Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage Plans. MedicareMall shops the market for you, and we leave no stone unturned!