Information and Resources on the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP)

In March of 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act—the new health insurance law. The law creates a new program – the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) -- to make health insurance available to individuals who have been denied coverage by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition. The PCIP provides a health coverage option if an individual has been without health coverage for at least 6 months, has a pre-existing condition or has been denied health coverage because of a health condition, and is a U.S. citizen or resides here legally. This program may be able to help individuals, if they have been locked out of the insurance market, until 2014. In 2014, individuals will have access to affordable health insurance choices through a new competitive marketplace called an Exchange and will no longer be discriminated against based on a pre-existing condition. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, runs the PCIP in 23 states. In the other 27 states, including Colorado, there are state-based programs. The program may vary depending on what state you live in. Check out the State Plans page to learn more about how the PCIP works in your state. For more information click here