HHS Awards Grants to Twenty-two States to Offset Costs of Insurance for Residents Too Sick for Conventional Coverage

HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced $14.4 million in grants to help states provide health insurance to citizens who cannot get conventional health coverage because they are too sick. This builds on $25.6 million in grants awarded in September 2004 for a total of $40 million.

The grants are used by states to offset losses incurred in FY 2003 and 2004 in state high-risk pools, which offer health coverage to individuals with serious medical conditions.

“The grant will help states continue to provide access to health care through the high-risk pools they have maintained for the uninsured,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Individuals who benefit from these risk pools usually have a history of health problems that makes it extremely difficult to find affordable health coverage in the individual market.”

More than 180,000 individuals are enrolled in state high-risk pools across the country. In addition to providing health insurance coverage to individuals with health problems, high risk pools also assist in keeping private health insurance more affordable for healthier people. ...

Read the full story at:

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

~ : ~ : ~ : ~ : ~ : ~ : ~

Read our article on:

How to Find Affordable Utah Health Insurance