The MHIP was established by and operates according to legislation enacted by the Missouri General Assembly in 1991. Although the MHIP is not an insurance company, it is supervised by the Missouri Department of Insurance.

The MHIP now operates two separate high risk pools.  Each pool has a separate set of eligibility requirements.  To determine which pool you may be eligible for, refer to the below eligibility requirements.

MHIP State High Risk Pool Program:

The MHIP is funded by premiums paid by its enrollees and assessments paid by health insurers and HMOs that issue coverage to Missouri residents. There is no limit on the number of individuals who may be enrolled in the MHIP.

The MHIP offers individual health coverage through five major medical plans. Four plans differ only in the amount of the annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximums. Plan V is the high deductible health plan designed only for use with a health savings account. Deductibles range from $500 to $5,000; out-of-pocket maximums range from $2,500 to $5,000. The maximum benefit payable on behalf of any individual during his or her lifetime under any plan or combination of plans the MHIP offers is $1,000,000 for all injuries and illnesses combined. See Benefits for a detailed description of each plan. Contact your plan administrator for clarification on the plan V high deductible health plan for use with a health savings account.

For eligibility requirements for the MHIP State High Risk Pool Program, click here.

MHIP-PCIP Federal High Risk Pool Program

The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed in March 2010 by President Barack Obama, provides a total of $5 billion for a new, temporary national high risk pool program. This is intended as a stop-gap measure to make health insurance available to uninsured individuals prior to the time that market reforms take effect in 2014.

The new law allocates $81 million for Missouri's new high risk pool, which is being operated by MHIP. This new pool will be separate from Missouri's existing high risk pool which has been operated by MHIP since 1991.

The MHIP-PCIP offers individual health coverage with a $1,000 annual medical deductible and a $100 pharmacy deductible. The annual out of pocket maximum is $5,950. The maximum benefit payable on behalf of any individual during his or her lifetime is $1,000,000 for all injuries and illnesses combined. See Benefits for a detailed description of each plan.

For eligibility requirements for the MHIP-PCIP Federal High Risk Pool Program, click here.

Click here for the MHIP brochure
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