MichiganRadio

State to Create Temporary High Risk Insurance Pool ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) - Michigan will get $140 million from the federal government to set up a temporary high risk insurance pool.

The pool will cover high-risk people who have been denied coverage for the last six months because of a pre-existing condition.

Jason Moon is with the state Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation. He says Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield already takes individuals with preexisting conditions, but he says this new pool is better in some ways:

"The [new] plan's coverage is generally more comprehensive, and the deductibles are in many cases less expensive than what they may find currently in the individual market."

Moon says patients can enroll in the new plan in September. Coverage will likely start in October.

Michigan's temporary high risk insurance pool will end in 2014, when all insurance companies will be required to cover people with pre-existing conditions.

There are more than 30 states with high-risk insurance pools.

Contact Jennifer Guerra at guerraj@umich.edu

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