Hhs Awards $30 Million To Offset Insurance Cost Of Those Seriously Ill
Awards of nearly $30 million in grants to 16 states will provide health insurance to residents who cannot get conventional health coverage because they are too sick.
The grants will be used by the states to offset losses that they incurred in the operation of high-risk pools, which are typically state-created non-profit associations that offers health coverage to individuals with serious medical conditions. Enrollment in these pools is growing, with more than 172,000 individuals enrolled in state pools.
The grants were authorized in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. To be eligible, a state must have a “qualified” high-risk pool that meets the criteria specified in the Trade Act and must follow such rules as capping premiums at no higher than 150 percent of the standard charge in the state.
States were eligible for a grant that matches up to 50 percent of the losses incurred in the operation of the risk pools. Funds were distributed based on the number of uninsured individuals in each state. HHS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers the program.
The 16 states that received grants are as follows: Alaska, $495,769;
Arkansas, $1,764,129;
Colorado, $2,945,322;
Connecticut, $1,460,719;
Illinois, $7,451,658;
Indiana, $2,889,802;
Iowa, $1,018,945;
Kansas, $1,337,299;
Kentucky, $2,297,008;
Minnesota, $1,710,789;
Mississippi, $1,890,350;
Montana, $638,228;
Nebraska, $719,841;
New Hampshire, $224,559;
North Dakota, $310,349;
Oklahoma, $2,681,597.