Bad states to live in for health insurance availability and afforability
September 13, 2007 on 5:16 pm | In Uncategorized |Bad states are: Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts.
Of these the only states that at least offer short-term medical insurance which can be used as an affordable alternative to cost prohibitive renewable plans are Rhode Island and Maine.
Those of us who want to see these states improve the health insurance choices and costs have to have our elected officials do these things: 1) Establish a high risk health insurance pool in the individual market so those highest consumers of medical care can obtain their coverage through the pool and those in fair to good health can get their plans from private insurers in the private market.
Not having a high risk health insurance pool for individuals is a deterrent to health insurers with individual plans. States without a high risk pool essentially have no individual market. Individuals and families can’t call an agent to help with with coverage because no carriers are willing to pay an agent to help individuals and families with coverage. They are left to fend for themselves. In RI, ME they can at least obtain short-term medical insurance through an agent but in the other states people must settle for the crumbs that the few carriers that do do business in their states are willing to provide and pay astronomical prices for coverage.