Many private health insurers will not cover you if you have a pre-existing condition that will likely be costly to them. If you have been turned down by all of the providers in your area, your state might have a program to help you. As of May 2010, 35 states run high-risk insurance pools for people who cannot otherwise find health insurance. Getting into a high-risk pool might not be easy, but for some it is the only way to get health coverage.
Step 1
Determine if the your State runs a high-risk insurance pool. The states that have them as of May 2010 are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Step 2
Find out if you qualify for and how to apply to your State's program. You can find a link to information about individual programs in Resources.
Step 3
Apply well ahead of the time when you might be depending on the coverage. Like private health insurers, many high-risk insurance pools have a several month waiting period before you can make any claims. This is to prevent adverse selection--the practice of consumers enrolling in a health plan at a time when they need immediate financial help.
Step 4
Save extra money to pay for your monthly premiums. State-run high risk pools often charge up to 50 percent more than private insurers do.
Step 5
Never stop looking for another insurer. Your state could discontinue its high-risk pool at any time; you should do your best to be prepared for that.
Tips and Warnings
- If your state does not have a high-risk pool, it might have laws in place to help people with pre-existing conditions find coverage. Contact your state attorney general's office to inquire about such laws.
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