GOVERNMENT ESTIMATE OVERSTATES PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

(May 2011) One year ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated “the creation of a national high-risk insurance pool will result in roughly 375,000 people gaining coverage in 2010, increasing national health spending by $4 billion.” But the number of enrollees totaled only 12,437 on Feb. 1, including only 147 in Arkansas.

Link to Pre-Existing Conditions, By State

(Source: “Estimated Financial Effects of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” as Amended.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, http://www.cms.gov/ActuarialStudies/Downloads/PPACA_2010-04-22.pdf. (p. 16, paragraph 3))

PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS, BY STATE

As of February 1, 2011

Pennsylvania	2046
Texas	1007
Illinois	943
Ohio	726
California	706
North Carolina	674
Florida	613
Oregon	483
Colorado	434
New York	411
Georgia	399
Wisconsin	307
Arizona	270
South Carolina	242
New Jersey	216
Virginia	204
New Mexico	198
Oklahoma	190
Tennessee	171
Missouri	166
Montana	153
Arkansas	147
Maryland	145
Washington	139
Indiana	131
Nevada	125
Utah	117
Kansas	112
Louisiana	92
Michigan	89
Rhode Island	86
Iowa	80
New Hampshire	78
South Dakota	62
Alabama	61
Mississippi	58
Kentucky	56
Wyoming	49
Idaho	42
Nebraska	39
Delaware	34
Minnesota	29
Hawaii	23
Connecticut	22
Alaska	20
West Virginia	15
Maine	13
District of Columbia	10
North Dakota	5
Massachusetts	0
Vermont	0
United States	12,437

(Note: Massachusetts and Vermont are guarantee issue States that have already implemented many of the broader market reforms included in the Affordable Care Act that take effect in 2014.  Existing commercial plans offering guaranteed coverage at premiums comparable to PCIP are already available in both States.)

Source: “State by State Enrollment in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, as of February 1, 2011. ” http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/pcip02102011a.html