HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt on July 21 announced awards of more than $49 million in grants to 30 states that provide health insurance to residents who cannot get conventional health coverage because of their health status.
The states will use the grants to offset losses that they incurred operating high-risk pools, which are typically state-created not-for-profit associations that offer health coverage to individuals with serious medical conditions. Grant funds also provide support for disease management for chronic conditions and premium subsidies for individuals with lower incomes. Enrollment in these pools is growing, with more than 200,000 individuals enrolled in state pools.
Funds were allocated based on the number of uninsured individuals in each state and the numbers of individuals enrolled in each pool. This year’s grants are in addition to approximately $286 million that states have received since 2003 to support this program. Read the press release.
