Insurance for Pre-existing Medical Conditions

Insurance for Pre-existing Medical Conditions

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, and cannot get private insurance, the state of Nevada may be able to help you.

The pre-existing insurance plan, PCIP, has just lowered its premiums by more than a third.  It's one of the first provisions of the Affordable Care Act to go into effect.

The woman who knows the program inside and out is Marilyn Wills, The director of the State Office of Consumer Health Information. She says some people find it's almost impossible to get insurance, saying "If you have a pre-existing condition and you go to an insurance company, they may give you a policy that eliminates coverage on that condition, or they may say you're totally uninsurable."

In October of 2010, the PCIP was first rolled out, and the state expected some 16,000 Nevadans to sign up. But only a handful did. Wills said the reason given most often was that the premiums were too high. Her agency talked sense into the Federal officials, who lowered premiums by 37%. That made it more affordable. Last October, the lowest premium was $300 to $400 a month, now the premiums start at just $114 a month.

Wills told 8 News Now, "It's not going to solve everybody's problems, but it's a bridge to 2014." 2014 is when the full Affordable Care Act will be in effect. 

To be eligible for the PCIP:

You must have been without insurance for six months or more.

You must be a citizen or a legal resident.

You must have a pre-existing condition.

You might wonder why any of this is going forward, since Governor Brian Sandoval continues to oppose the Affordable Care act. Wills said, "The governor has decided that it's best to be prepared, so planning is underway.

 https://www.pcip.gov/StatePlans.html