New High-risk Pool Begins in TN

THCC reminds Tennesseans about existing high-risk pool, Access TN & Urge consumers to compare both options

Nashville, TN (Jun 30, 2010)—  Uninsured Tennesseans with pre-existing medical conditions will soon have another choice for obtaining health care coverage.

The new high-risk pool provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act takes effect July 1. The Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a new choice of quality coverage for Tennesseans who have been without health coverage for at least six months and who have been denied coverage because of pre-existing health conditions. PCIP is a new option and not a replacement for the state’s existing high-risk pool called Access TN, http://www.covertn.gov .

“I am glad that Tennesseans will have another choice. It is important that uninsured people with existing medical conditions check out the advantages of both pools before they decide,” said Tony Garr, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign.

Consumer health care advocacy group, the Tennessee Health Care Campaign (THCC), believes the new federal pool will mostly help those in higher income brackets, but will not help the most of the 1.3 million* Tennesseans with pre-existing conditions because the premiums are simply too high.  THCC is urging individuals deemed as “uninsurable” to take a look at both high-risk pools and see which one is their best option.

For Tennesseans with incomes below $64,000 for a family of three or $75,000 for a family of four, Access TN may be the best choice because premium discounts of 20, 40 and 60 percent are available. In addition, the waiting period is only three months as compared to six months for the new federal pre-existing condition insurance plan.

New Health Reform Website

Starting July 1, find the new coverage available in Tennessee and information about the complete range of health coverage options available for consumers by ZIP code @ http://www.healthcare.gov .

*Health Reform: A Closer Look – Help for Tennesseans with Pre-existing Conditions @ http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/health-reform/pre-existing-conditions/tennessee.pdf