Daily News Updates - Health Insurance News

Montana Shines:  Right Thing to Do. – Kudos for Montana senators.

Two senators from Montana are made of ‘the right stuff’. They have ‘brought home the bacon’ (but not pork). Like all states, they have their ‘uninsurable’ and needy of health insurance. But, unlike many states they are doing something about it. The announcement was made yesterday by Montana’s senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus that they had secured, for their state, a health insurance subsidy award. The award in the form of a $1,054,073 grant was from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are to be used to subsidize health insurance for those Montanans who suffer with pre-existing conditions and diseases.

The funds will be administrated by the Montana Comprehensive Health Association in the form of a ‘high-risk pool’. Of course, the main purpose is to enable those who, otherwise could not afford health insurance, to get the help they need. The primary focus is on those who are generally denied coverage from private health insurance companies because of high risk.

Then those who are accepted for health insurance but given exorbitant rates, far beyond their reach. Next are those near the poverty level who just can’t afford anything. These persons can qualify for even more assistance. At this time, the Montana high-risk pool has about 3,000 enrollees.

Tester stated that his intent was for all of his constituents deserve quality health insurance/care and that they should get it. In his words, "Putting more resources into it will pave the way to better health care for thousands of folks. It's the right thing to do."

Senator Baucus is a staunch and long-time backer of ‘high-risk pool’ programs. He also believes that all the people of Montana deserve quality, affordable health insurance/care and that they should have access to it. In his words, "The folks who use this program are our neighbors, friends and family. This grant is about making sure they have the coverage they need to live full, happy, healthy lives under the Big Sky."

Senator Baucus has been working toward instituting these 'high-risk pool’ health insurance/care programs since before 2001, when he first secured funding for the state of Montana’s pool. After that, he took it a step further by writing into the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 the proposal to extend implementations to other states, as well. He continued on in 2004 to co-sponsored the reauthorization bill.