On February 1 the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool, Inclusive Health, closed enrollment to new members with the exception of two current eligibility categories: HIPPA eligibles and HCTC eligibles. If you are currently enrolled as an Inclusive Health member, you will not be affected. New restricted enrollment will only affect NEW applications for enrollment. After a decrease in the state premium tax revenue used to fund the program, the Board of Inclusive Health made the decision to freeze enrollment in order to cut costs.
The North Carolina Health Insurance Risk pool was established by the N.C. General Assembly in 2007, and began providing coverage on January 1, 2009. Inclusive Health provides affordable, individual health insurance coverage to those who do not have access to an employer health plan and face higher premiums due to a preexisting medical condition. "About 11,000 North Carolina residents are covered by the high-risk pool, and about 200 people a month join the program," said Michael Keough, Executive Director of Inclusive Health. If the state and federal pools aren't options, people will have to wait until January 1, 2014 when the Affordable Care Act blocks insureres from turning away people with preexisting conditions.
To learn more about Inclusive Health enrollment changes, click here.
