An individual can buy pool coverage only if they meet one of the listed eligibility paths, and the board may create a medical-conditions list that lets some people apply directly.
(1) To be eligible to purchase pool coverage, an individual shall: (a) Be a resident of the state for a period of at least six months and shall be an individual: (i) Who is not eligible for coverage under a group health plan comparable to pool coverage, medicare by reason of age, or medical assistance pursuant to the Medical Assistance Act or section 43-522, or any successor program, and who does not have any other health insurance coverage comparable to pool coverage; (ii) Who, if such individual was offered the option of continuation coverage under COBRA or under a similar program, both elected such continuation coverage and exhausted such continuation coverage; and (iii)(A) Who has received, within six months prior to application to the pool, a rejection in writing, for reasons of health, from an insurer for health insurance coverage comparable to pool coverage; (B) Who currently has, or has been offered within six months prior to application to the pool, health insurance coverage comparable to pool coverage by an insurer which includes a restrictive rider which limits health insurance coverage for a preexisting medical condition; or (C) Who has been refused health insurance coverage comparable to pool coverage, or has been offered health insurance coverage at a rate exceeding the premium rate for pool coverage, within six months prior to application to the pool; (b) Be a resident of the state for any length of time and be an individual: (i) For whom, as of the date the individual seeks pool coverage under this section, the aggregate of the periods of creditable coverage is eighteen or more months and whose most recent prior creditable coverage was under a group health plan, governmental plan, or church plan; (ii) Who is not eligible for coverage under a group health plan, medicare, or medical assistance pursuant to the Medical Assistance Act or section 43-522, or any successor program, and who does not have any other health insurance coverage; (iii) With respect to whom the most recent prior creditable coverage was not terminated for factors relating to nonpayment of premiums or fraud; and (iv) Who, if such individual was offered the option of continuation coverage under COBRA or under a similar program, both elected such continuation coverage and exhausted such continuation coverage; or (c) Be a resident of the state for any length of time and be a qualified trade adjustment assistance eligible individual. (2) The board may adopt and promulgate a list of medical or health conditions for which an individual would be eligible for pool coverage without applying for health insurance coverage pursuant to subdivision (1)(a) of this section. Individuals who can demonstrate the existence or history of any medical or health conditions on the list adopted and promulgated by the board shall be eligible to apply directly to the pool for pool coverage. History: Laws 1985, LB 391, § 21; Laws 1992, LB 1006, § 35; Laws 1997, LB 862, § 26; Laws 1998, LB 1035, § 7; Laws 1998, LB 1063, § 2; Laws 2000, LB 1253, § 24; Laws 2004, LB 1047, § 12; Laws 2006, LB 1248, § 61; Laws 2009, LB358, § 4.