(Augusta) Consumers for Affordable Health Care (CAHC) today praised the request by the Dirigo Health Agency (DHA) to add eleven more qualifying conditions to the federal Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), which provides health coverage to anyone with a qualifying pre-existing condition who has been uninsured for six months.  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved the request and the new conditions, which include Arthritis, Eating Disorders, and Lyme Disease, will be added to the qualifying list of conditions beginning on October 1, 2011.  There were 37 pre-existing conditions that could allow a person to be eligible for the coverage, which is funded by the federal government.  Now there will be 48.     

The eleven additional pre-existing conditions are: Arthritis, ALS, Fibromyalgia, Hepatitis, Lupus, Thrombosis, Scleroderma, Meningitis/Encephalitis, Eating Disorders, Chronic Seizure Disorders, and Lyme Disease. 

"The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan is a vital resource for those suffering from a pre-existing condition.  By significantly expanding the list of qualifying conditions, now even more people can benefit from this plan," said Greg White, CAHC's Public Relations Coordinator.

Even if someone hans't been uninsured for six month, DHA still may be able to help.  In addition to PCIP, DHA also offers DirigoChoice and the Part-Time Employee Voucher Program.  There are currently over 580 small businesses enrolled in either DirigoChoice or the Voucher Program (not including sole proprietorships), and over 15,000 Mainers receive their insurance coverage through DHA.      

The Voucher Program can be offered by employers for as little as a 5 percent contribution towards the part-time or seasonal employee's monthly premium, the rest of which is picked up by the employee and the federal government.  The amount the employee pays on a monthly basis is determined by annual income and assets.  There is a sliding scale to determine how much of a subsidy the government will contribute. 

Last year, DHA did not raise its individual rates at all and increased its small group rates by only 2 percent.  Because of its competitive rates and quality benefits, DHA remains a viable option for insurance coverage for many, and in some instances is the ONLY option for thousands of Mainers who would otherwise not have access to quality, affordable health care.  Many of these people are hard-working Mainers struggling to provide for themselves and their families. 

For more information on the current list of pre-existing conditions, please click here.

For more information on insurance plans offered by DHA, please click here.