The federal health reform law, known as the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act", establishes a federally-funded temporary high risk pool to provide affordable health insurance coverage to people who have been denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions. In Illinois, this plan is call the Illinois Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (IPXP). Urbana-based Health Alliance Medical Plans Inc. was awarded the contract for this plan. The plan began accepting applications at 10:00 am August 20, 2010.
To qualify for the plan you must be a U.S. Citizen, national, or legal resident, be uninsured for at least 6 months, and have a pre-existing condition.
You can establish that you have a pre-existing condition by: 1.) providing documentation from a health insurance company stating that you are ineligible for comprehensive coverage due to a medical condition; 2.) providing documentation from a health insurance company offering you health coverage with a rider that excludes coverage for your medical condition; or 3.) provide a written statement from a physician stating that you have an existing medical condition that may result in denial of comprehensive coverage by a health insurance company. The plan has provided me with a "Qualifying Pre-existing Medical Condition Certification Form" that you may provide to your doctor to certify your current health status.
You can find out more information at htt://www.insurance.illinois.gov/HealthInsurance/highriskpools.asp.
I would recommend that any interested persons apply asap because the project has limited funding.
Steve
