330 Ohioans enroll as high-risk pool opens

Ohio’s new insurance pool for those with pre-existing conditions opened Wednesday and the state announced that 330 Ohioans are currently enrolled (Source: “Ohio health insurance pool covers about 330,” Associated Press via Newark Advocate, Sept. 2, 2010).

As part of national health reform legislation that passed in March, states are required to either set up a special high-risk insurance pool for individuals with pre-existing conditions or enable residents to enroll in a national one. Ohio has contracted with Medical Mutual of Ohio to manage the pool. The state is one of 27  that opted to run its own pool rather than rely on the pool operated by the federal government.

Officials with the Ohio Department of Insurance said the number or enrollees is lower than expected but thousands of applications have been requested and the state still projects that about 5,500 Ohioans will eventually get coverage through the program.

The state's Web site for the high-risk pool is http://www.ohiohighriskpool.com/