Medical Mutual of Ohio to Operate Temporary High Risk Pool
As stated in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states must provide a temporary high risk pool to those individuals who are unable to purchase health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. As of last week, Mary Jo Hudson, the Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance announced that Medical Mutual of Ohio will be the non-profit entity responsible for operating the State of Ohio’s temporary high risk pool program.
“We are pleased to have selected an Ohio company to operate the temporary high risk pool program in Ohio,” declared Hudson. “With approximately $152 million coming to Ohio through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to operate this program, this is an opportunity for an Ohio based non-profit company to be involved in providing health insurance benefits to the many Ohioans who need coverage because of pre-existing health conditions.”
Hudson continued: “We selected Medical Mutual to operate the temporary high risk pool program in Ohio after a competitive process because they can begin to cover Ohioans by August and will do so at a low cost. We look forward to working with them throughout this process to ensure eligible Ohioans can obtain quality coverage through this new program.”
The temporary high risk pool is a health insurance plan that is federally subsidized and intended for those individuals who cannot secure coverage in the private market due to pre-existing conditions. According to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, in order to be eligible for the temporary high risk pool one must be uninsured for at least six months.
In submitting their proposal to the state, Medical Mutual estimated they would be able to cover over 5,000 Ohioans with the funding available. Insured persons would be responsible for paying a base rate for their coverage. Aside from the funding provided by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, no other federal or state funds will be used toward this program.
“Becoming involved in the high risk pool is consistent with who we are as a mutual insurance company, as well as an Ohio company, that has been serving the healthcare needs of Ohioans for 76 years,” said Rick Chiricosta, President and CEO of Medical Mutual of Ohio.
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