States must decide whether or not they will operate these pools for uninsured persons with pre-existing conditions by the end of today. Most of the states who chose not to run a pool cited funding concerns, including concerns that the federal government would not provide enough money to cover the cost of the pools.
Other states, including California, Montana, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, have agreed to operate the pools.
HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius said that the federal government will provide a high-risk pool for residents of states that opt out of operating their own.
Read the New York Times’ report on high-risk pools.
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