North Carolina officials announced today that more than 10,000 people have signed up for the state and federal high-risk insurance pools that are intended to allow chronically uninsured patients with pre-existing conditions to get coverage for a fraction of what they would pay a private insurer.
The federal program is the first major initiative enacted under the new health care law. It targets people who have been without health care for at least six months.
It is being offered side by side with an existing state program that targets people who have suddenly lost coverage because of job loss or because they've been turned down by private insurance companies.
There are currently 7,826 members in the state program, which launched in January 2009. The federal program has 2,630 members. It launched last summer.
Rates for both programs are set by law, making the premiums lower than what a person would get through a private insurer.
The state program offers premiums that are about 50 percent less than people with pre-existing conditions would pay from a private insurer. The federal program offers even steeper discounts.
Still, even with those discounts, the premiums remain too high for many people. Getting the word out about the programs has also been a challenge, as many people who have gone without health care for an extended period of time are often tough to sign up.
North Carolina is one of 35 states that operate their own high-risk pool. It is among about 20 states that asked to manage the federal program in tandem with their own pools.
Congress has allocated $5 billion to run the federal program. North Carolina's share is expected to amount to $145 million.
For additional information on both the state and federal programs go here or call 866-665-2117.
Business reporter David Bracken came to the N&O in 2004. He covers commercial and residential real estate. Contact David at 919-829-4548 or 
