This blog is written by Mr. Steven C. Schurr, Esq. and focuses on health care law matters that pertain to food and drug law, regulatory compliance, privacy rights, insurance coverage, state and federal disability coverage, patient advocacy issues, and mental health coverage and treatment.

Friday, August 20, 2010

New Illinois Insurance Plan for Those with Pre-existing Medical Conditions is Now Accepting Applications Effective August 20, 2010

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