Some high-risk members of the federally-funded back-up health insurance pools for those with pre-existing conditions saw their costs increase Jan. 1, as the federal government seeks to protect the pools from running out of money, according to a report by Kaiser Health News.
About 38,000 people had their out-of-pocket spending cap raised from $4,000 to $6,250 in their health plans through the pools, which were established with $5 billion in federal money in 2010 for people unable to acquire health insurance due to their pre-existing conditions.
Only about 130,000 of the expected 300,000 joined the plans, but per capita spending has been high and varied greatly between states, with one state averaging nearly $172,000 per member. About $1.9 billion of the original $5 billion had been spent by Sept. 30, 2011, according to a CMS report (pdf).
The pools are intended to expire once health insurers are barred from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions at the start of next year and those members will be able to buy health plans on the online health insurance exchanges.
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About 38,000 people had their out-of-pocket spending cap raised from $4,000 to $6,250 in their health plans through the pools, which were established with $5 billion in federal money in 2010 for people unable to acquire health insurance due to their pre-existing conditions.
Only about 130,000 of the expected 300,000 joined the plans, but per capita spending has been high and varied greatly between states, with one state averaging nearly $172,000 per member. About $1.9 billion of the original $5 billion had been spent by Sept. 30, 2011, according to a CMS report (pdf).
The pools are intended to expire once health insurers are barred from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions at the start of next year and those members will be able to buy health plans on the online health insurance exchanges.
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