WASHINGTON, Jan. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Communicating for America (CA), a longtime advocate for the those Americans with pre-existing conditions and the medically uninsurable, says that while the extension of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program recently announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will help thousands of the sickest Americans continue their health coverage and treatments during the unstable rollout of the newly created state health insurance marketplaces, more needs to be done to protect this high-risk population.
"These are among the sickest and most vulnerable Americans, and we have to do everything possible to ensure that their transition into the new exchanges is seamless. It is absolutely critical that this population is able to continue their treatments for diseases such as cancer, hemophilia or diabetes," said CA President Patty Strickland. "These programs should be extended until the end of 2014 to allow any individual in a state or federal high-risk pool to obtain coverage through the exchanges. Additionally, we are calling on HHS, the White House and Congress to commit to funding both the PCIP and remaining state-based high-risk pools until the very last participant has secured new coverage that adequately covers their condition. If that happens to be past March 31st, then the open enrollment period needs to also be extended for these individuals."
Communicating for America (CA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization made up of small business and agricultural members across America. CA has long been involved in support of common-sense solutions to help the medically uninsurable access health coverage through high-risk pools. In 1976, CA helped establish the first high-risk pool in Minnesota, and CA has been involved with the development of risk pools in the 34 other states that have since developed high-risk pools. In 1992, CA helped create the National Association of State Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans (NASCHIP) and has testified many times on the topic of private/public partnerships to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance. For more information visit www.communicatingforAmerica.org or contact [email protected].
For more information:
Ben Schierer, Vice President
(218) 739-3241
SOURCE Communicating for America