The Health Insurance Plan of Iowa (HIPIOWA [1]) is the high-risk pool that serves residents that cannot purchase coverage in the private market for reasons including: pre-existing medical condition or disease diagnosis that results in a premium higher than HIPIOWA rates, reduced benefits or benefit limitation, or an outright denial. Residents of Iowa are also eligible if they qualify under federal HIPAA or COBRA protections. At the end of 2005, just over 1,300 persons were enrolled.
The Iowa Individual Health Benefit Reinsurance Association (IHBRA), a previously existing pool of reinsured individuals, was merged into HIPIOWA effective January, 2005.
Links:
[1] http://www.hipiowa.com/
