Inclusive Health is unveiling a new program to subsidize the monthly premiums of individuals who may not be able to afford participation in the state’s high risk pool. Triad agents excited about the subsidy will be enrolling applicants on Tuesday at Forsyth Medical Center.
“Inclusive Health is already providing valuable coverage to over 2000 North Carolinians who could not find affordable insurance in the private insurance market. These federal dollars will open the door to even more of our citizens and make sure they have the security of quality health insurance regardless of their medical history,” said Gov. Bev Perdue.
Inclusive Health will award the subsidies on a first-come first-serve basis beginning today. The $1.5 million grant was awarded to Inclusive Health by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under a federal High Risk Pool Operational Loss Grant Program. Inclusive Health Assist is offering discounted premiums to eligible individuals with annual incomes up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s equal to $43,710 for a married couple or $66,150 for a family of four. Discounts will range from 20 to 43 percent off of Inclusive Health’s monthly premiums beginning Jan. 1, 2010, to approved applicants. The subsidy is available to existing and new Inclusive Health members.
“We are very excited about Inclusive Health Assist and know it will bring health insurance coverage to individuals who are already struggling to find affordable insurance due to their medical status. A million and a half dollars gives Inclusive Health the opportunity to cover even more North Carolinians including those who may not have been able to afford our premiums until now. We anticipate awarding subsidies to around 500 people through this new money,” said Michael Keough, Executive Director of Inclusive Health. “I encourage anyone who may qualify for this subsidy to start the application process immediately – enrollment will be limited by the availability of this federal funding, and we anticipate a great demand for this additional assistance.”
Inclusive Health – also known as the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP) – started offering coverage on Jan. 1. It was created by the state of North Carolina as an affordable option for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions who lack access to group coverage or other government programs like Medicare or Medicaid. It also covers North Carolinians who have exhausted COBRA and trade displaced workers. Funding from the State allows Inclusive Health to cap its rates, making it significantly less expensive than what is traditionally offered to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
THE TRIAD CONNECTION
There has been tremendous interest by Triad residents in Inclusive Health’s coverage – the enrollment event will officially introduce the premium subsidy program with agents available to explain its qualifications. This is Inclusive Health’s third visit to Winston-Salem. Most recently, the plan sponsored an enrollment event in early October to enroll former employees of Pace Airlines Inc. who had lost their health insurance coverage.
In appreciation of the coverage, William Ivie – employed four years with Pace as a manager before the company – will speak at the start of Tuesday’s event about how he was able to find coverage as an Inclusive Health member.
“I was denied coverage because I have arthritis and have to take expensive drugs,” said Ivie, who tried to get coverage elsewhere. “I would have been without insurance as there were no other options.”
His wife, Judy, was quoted an expensive policy with a traditional insurer with an exorbitant deductible and a several hundred dollar a month premium due to her medical history. Now she is covered under Inclusive Health as well.
“We are already receiving benefits from it. It’s almost the same coverage we had under the group plan,” said Ivie.
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