Pre Existing Conditions & Insurance

Call to Action

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, established by the Affordable Care Act, is already changing—and saving--the lives of people who have been locked out of the individual insurance market because of their health. New eligibility standards and lower premiums in some states, announced by the Department of Health and Human Services on May 31, now make it a lot easier and more affordable for people to enroll in this program.

The program provides comprehensive coverage at the same price that healthy people pay. Enrollees receive primary and specialty care, hospital care, prescription drugs, home health and hospice care, skilled nursing care, preventive health and maternity care.

But, the time to act is now. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan is a bridge program—only available until 2014—when new insurance rules go in to effect.

Here’s what you can do to extend the reach of this health coverage lifeline to people in your community:

• Ask your friends, clients or patients to find out how the program works--from benefits, and premium rates to eligibility and how to apply. They can visit www.pcip.gov and select “Find Your State.” Individuals can select their state from a drop down menu to get program specifics. In addition, a Call Center is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. at: 1-866-717-5826 (TTY: 1-866-561-1604). (Information on new program changes is available at www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/pcip.)

• Post a PCIP badge (web link) on your organization’s website. You can go to http://www.healthcare.gov/stay_connected.html to find the badge and the code you will need to insert this badge in either English or Spanish on your web page.

• Include a PCIP drop-in article in the next issue of your newsletter. Please drop a note to laurie.oseran@hhs.gov for a copy of a PCIP newsletter article.

• Include a PCIP speaker on your next webinar, conference call, and state or national meeting. Experts from our National Speaker Bureau can tell your colleagues and members everything they need to know about the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan. Our speaking staff includes health insurance experts such as Jay Angoff (Senior Adviser to Secretary Sebelius), Richard Popper (Director, PCIP), and other program experts. To find out how to arrange a speaker for your next event, please contact: Laurie Oseran at laurie.oseran@hhs.gov.

Thank you in advance for your support and helping us reach people who can benefit from this important new coverage program.