Federal officials have extended the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan for a third time, allowing enrollees who have not yet found new health plans through the health insurance exchanges to keep PCIP coverage through April 30.
The $5 billion program was intended to help sick people waiting for the full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which prohibits insurers from refusing to cover people with pre-existing conditions. It was originally scheduled to stop operating at the end of 2013.
However, in December, the Obama administration announced it would extend the program by one month to give people more time to purchase health plans through the exchanges. In January, officials announced an additional extension through March 31 to give people with pre-existing conditions even more time to shop for coverage while still receiving ongoing care through the program.
Although the extension gives PCIP enrollees more time to find new coverage, an announcement on the program's website warns the 2014 open enrollment period for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act exchanges is quickly drawing to a close. Open enrollment will end March 31.
"Time is running out," the PCIP site states. "You need to act to avoid a lapse in coverage."
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