In March 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act - the new health law. The law creates a new program - the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) to make health coverage available to you if you have been denied health insurance by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition.

Nevadans can now obtain guaranteed medical coverage through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

U.S. citizens in Nevada who have been denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and who have remained uninsured for at least six months, can now enroll through this new program to purchase insurance that won't be taken away because of an illness or need for treatment.

In order to qualify for coverage under the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, individuals in Nevada:

Must be a citizen of the United States or lawfully present in the United States.
Must have been uninsured for at least the last six months before they apply.
Must have had a problem getting insurance due to a pre-existing condition.

PCIP will cover primary and specialty care, hospital visits and prescription drugs. All covered benefits are available, even if it's to treat a pre-existing condition.

In addition to eliminating the ability for insurers to deny coverage as a result of pre-existing conditions, The Affordable Care Act:

Preserves the ability for Nevadans to see the doctor of their choice.
Removes insurance company barriers to life-saving emergency department services.
Bans insurance companies from arbitrarily dropping people who get sick and need coverage most.
Prohibits insurance plans from placing lifetime limits on coverage.
Restricts the annual dollar limits on coverage by insurance plans.