Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new enrollment data for the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIP). Enrollment increased by 6,000 since February, with a total of 18,313 individual enrolled at the end of March.

Although current enrollment figures are lower than estimated, recent actions by some states and the federal government are helping enrollment by increasing awareness of the program and lowering premiums. For example, in January, the PCIP program in North Carolina cut rates by 10 percent and witnessed a doubling of enrollment since February.¹ HHS also reduced premiums by approximately 20 percent in the 23 states where it administers the PCIP programs. HHS also added two new plan choices to improve benefit design for current enrollees and new applicants.²

In an April testimony to the U. S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Steve Larson, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), stated that CCIIO is actively working with states, consumer groups, patient advocates, voluntary health organizations, health care providers, social workers, other federal agencies, and the insurance industry to promote the program.

To view state-by-state enrollment, please click here.

¹http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/May/06/high-risk-pool-health-insurance-low-enrollment.aspx
²http://republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/Media/file/Hearings/Oversight/040111/Larsen.pdf