AccessWV is a health plan created by West Virginia statute to provide health insurance to West Virginians who have been unable to find or who have been denied health insurance in the private market because of a medical condition. It also provides coverage to people who are eligible under the Federal Portability Act or under the IRS Health Coverage Tax Credit Program.

AccessWV and Health Reform

  I get my health coverage through a state High-Risk Pool and I’d like to keep my current plan.

• Will I be able to do that?
• How will my plan be affected by the health law?

  High-Risk Pool were created especially for people with pre-existing health conditions who were denied or offered limited coverage in the commercial market. The federal health law (called the ACA for short) requires insurers to issue coverage to all citizens who apply – Guarantee Issue – and offer plans at the same premium rates for people of the same age, geographic residence, and tobacco status. Thus, the original need for high risk pools goes away. As individual states move forward with plans for their Health Benefit Exchange, the High-Risk Pool’s role may change or it may be dissolved when Guarantee Issue takes place on January 1, 2014. If the latter occurs, by Fall 2013, members of AccessWV will be directed to the Exchange, in the same way people who turn age 65 are directed to Medicare.gov, to choose their new coverage plan and determine their eligibility for subsidies. Specific information will be communicated to members as it becomes available.