Before the Affordable Care Act, Americans like Deborah Sferlazza of Shelby Township, Michigan, were locked out of health insurance due to a pre-existing condition. This often a meant going without the care they need for those conditions.
Now, 50,000 Americans have health coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan in their state – and are getting the care they need to manage their medical conditions. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, or PCIP, is a temporary high-risk health insurance program that makes health coverage available and more affordable for individuals who are uninsured and have been denied health insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
In 2005, Deborah suffered a back injury that left her unemployed and struggling to afford health insurance premiums. She runs her own small business out of her home, but like many self-employed Americans, particularly those with a pre-existing condition, health insurance was out of reach.
All that changed when Deborah found out about Michigan’s PCIP program and was able to enroll this past summer. She received back surgery in August 2011 and is now on the road to recovery.
Fonte: White House