The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) is a program that offers health coverage to medically-uninsurable individuals who live in California. California now offers this federally-funded health coverage program, as a result of the federal health care reform signed by President Obama last year.

This program is available for individuals who did not have health coverage in the 6 months prior to applying.

In order for a person to qualify for the PCIP, a person must have met the following eligibility requirements:

• A current California resident or resident in the State you’re applying for coverage.
• Must have been clear of health coverage the past 6 months prior to application being received. This means in the last 6 months you were not enrolled in an individual or job-based health plan, including COBRA or Cal-COBRA, or enrolled in Medicare Part A and/or Part B, or in No-Cost Medicaid/No-Cost Medi-Cal.
• You must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawfully present individual with a valid Social Security number.
• You must have been denied individual insurance coverage within the past 12 months, for a pre-existing condition as shown by:
  
1. Rejection letter from a health insurance company in the last 12 months, letter from your insurance broker or
2. Offered coverage with premiums higher than those of the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) preferred provider organization (PPO) in the geographic region where the individual is seeking coverage.