HIPUtah

The Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool in Utah, otherwise know as HIPUtah, was started in 1991 with the sole purpose of addressing the issue of serious health conditions and the uninsured. It also helps address the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

So what does that mean to you? HIPAA was to insure that if you lost your employer sponsored coverage or individual coverage and you had a serious health condition, like cancer, heart disease or diabetes, you would still be able to find coverage even though you would be otherwise uninsurable.

Prior to 2001, HIPUtah was guaranteed coverage, but not any longer. To qualify, no other insurance must be available to you, you must have been declined for coverage elsewhere and you must have an uninsurable condition. You also have to have been a Utah resident for more than a year.

Even though the state runs the plan and makes the rules for it, SelectHealth Utah administers it. That means that if you are covered under the HIPUtah plan, you will have to see a doctor that is in a special SelectHealth network. You will also not be covered for pre-existing conditions for the first six months of coverage (ten months for maternity coverage) unless you meet the following conditions:

HIPAA eligible

Transferring from an out-of-state high-risk pool within established time regulations; or

Involuntarily terminated from either individual or group coverage and has no other option for coverage.

If you fit into any of those categories, you can receive treatment from day one on your current conditions. Otherwise you will have to wait six months for them to be covered.

There is much to know about these plans, so if you wish more information or if you wish to see if you qualify to apply, please don't hesitate to call us and we can help and assist you in that.