N.C. Health Insurance Risk Pool Open for Business

The N.C. Health Insurance Risk Pool (http://www.nchirp.org ), now doing business as Inclusive Health ( http://www.inclusivehealth.org ), will be open for enrollment on Oct. 20 after the N.C. Department of Insurance's (DOI) recent approval of its benefit plans and premium rates. Individuals who enroll this fall will be eligible for coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2009.

Information on Inclusive Health's benefits, rates and how to apply can be found at www.inclusivehealth.org or by calling toll-free at 1-866-665-2117.

The N.C. General Assembly created the N.C. Health Insurance Risk Pool (NCHIRP) in August 2007. It aims to provide affordable health insurance coverage for North Carolinians who do not have access to an employer health plan and who, because of their health conditions, face high insurance premiums or cannot obtain individual health insurance at all.

Inclusive Health also is open for enrollment to qualified North Carolinians in two additional categories: (1) people who have lost or are losing group coverage and qualify as federally defined eligibles under HIPAA, as long as they have maintained continuous coverage with no more than a 63-day lapse; and (2) individuals eligible for the Health Care Tax Credit under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act who have lost jobs due to the effects of international trade may also qualify for coverage through Inclusive Health.

Inclusive Health's next priority is creating a statewide healthcare provider network to serve enrollees through its third-party administrator CoreSource.