The National Coalition for LGBT Health

One of the largest and most immediate initiatives under the Affordable Care Act began in July 2010. Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans (PCIPs), designed to offer coverage for uninsured Americans who have been denied insurance because of past illness, are now open for enrollment in many states. 

While PCIPs are a big step towards getting insurance coverage for everyone that needs it, much more remains to be done. Here are three areas where guidance at the state level will be key to ensuring that PCIPs fulfill their potential for being a crucial step towards meeting the Affordable Care Act’s promise of accessible and affordable health insurance for everyone who needs it, including LGBT people:

• Ensure that program information and enrollment outreach efforts for PCIPs specifically include LGBT individuals and families
• Ensure that enrollment applications, eligibility questions, and other implementation actions for the PCIPs address the specific issues that affect access to health insurance for LGBT people
• Educate LGBT community members on the full range of their insurance options under the Affordable Care Act, including PCIPs  

Check out the Coalition's downloadable resource on PCIPs here.

More information on the PCIPs and the Affordable Care Act can be found at www.pcip.gov and www.healthcare.gov.