Enrollment for temporary program to insure adults with pre-existing conditions set to begin July 1

The Affordable Care Act requires states to establish temporary pre-existing conditions "high risk pools" to cover adults who have been uninsured for at least six months and can show proof that they have been denied insurance in the past because of a pre-existing condition. Enrollment for these pools will begin July 1, 2010 and coverage will be in effect from August 1, 2010 until January 1, 2014. At that time, health insurance "exchanges" go into effect allowing people not covered through their employers to shop for health insurance at competitive rates.

States were required to choose among several options for how to establish these federally funded pools and Ohio chose to develop its own high risk plan. On June 25, 2010, the Ohio Department of Insurance announced that Medical Mutual of Ohio will operate the temporary high risk pool program for Ohioans. More information about Ohio's plan is available on the Ohio Health Care Reform Initiatives website.

For more information about the Temporary High Risk Pool Program, read a Fact Sheet from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.