Federal officials have extended the Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan through March 31, according to a Kaiser Health News report.
The $5 billion program was intended to help sick people waiting for the full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which prohibits insurers from refusing to cover people with pre-existing conditions. It was originally scheduled to stop operating at the end of 2013. However, last month, the Obama administration announced it would extend the program by one month to give people more time to purchase health plans through the exchanges.
The additional two-month extension was enacted to give people with pre-existing conditions even more time to shop for coverage while still receiving ongoing care through the program, according to the report. Enrollees in the high-risk health insurance pools created as part of the program will need to enroll in new health plans by March 15 to have continuous coverage.
More Articles on PPACA Policy Changes:
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Health Insurers Extend Deadline for First PPACA Premium Payments