CMS releases details on increased availability of the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

In July, the Obama Administration announced upcoming changes to the federal Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) that was established as part of the Affordable Care Act. New instructions are now available from CMS on how physicians may help their patients access this program. To be eligible, patients must be citizens or legal residents; have been without coverage for six months prior to their application; and have a pre-existing condition or have been denied coverage because of their health. Prior to the changes in July, applicants needed to have a denial letter from an insurance company to prove their pre-existing condition. Now a patient needs only a letter from a physician stating that he has or had a medical condition, disability or illness.

A sample letter template is available on ACP's website. Additional details about the plan and the changes can be found at the Learn More section of the PCIP website.