Hawaii Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Hawaii?

There's more to celebrate than the sunny weather in Hawaii. This year's edition of America's Health Rankings had the state ranked fourth of the 50 states, according to the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• Hawaii was ranked #1 in three of the "core" health categories measured – and achieving the #2 ranking in three more.
• In the past year, the incidence of infectious disease has dropped nearly 30 percent while immunization coverage has increased by almost 8 percent.
• Since 1990, the percentage of children in poverty has dropped by 44 percent.

The bad news:

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Public health funding – 1st
• Preventable hospitalizations – 1st
• Air pollution – 1st
• Cardiovascular deaths – 2nd
• Cancer deaths – 2nd
• Lack of health insurance – 2nd
• Prevalence of obesity – 5th
• Prevalence of smoking – 5th
• Primary care physicians – 7th
• Poor physical health days – 8th
• Premature death – 9th
• Prenatal care – 42nd
• Prevalence of binge drinking – 43rd

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on Hawaii.

Does Hawaii have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Starting in 2010, Hawaii will offer health coverage to residents through the federally established temporary high-risk pool program. To find out more about Hawaii's participation, click here.

Risk pools are state-sponsored programs to help people with a history of medical problems in their family to purchase coverage. These pools are for people who can afford to buy health insurance, but are not able to get underwritten in the private market because of a pre-existing health condition. These programs can vary significantly from state to state in price, benefits and number of people served. Often insurance companies doing business in the state are required to contribute to the pool to keep it in the black. In the best cases, they allow people to be able to switch jobs or become self-employed without the fear of losing their health insurance coverage. Read more about risk pools here.

Cover The Uninsured's guide on finding health insurance in Hawaii

Cover The Uninsured is a national effort to highlight the fact that too many Americans are living without health insurance and to demand solutions from our nation's leaders. Read more information on its efforts. It is a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

• Cover The Uninsured's facts on the uninsured in Hawaii and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Hawaii.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Hawaii

Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute has researched and written state-by-state guides for finding and keeping health insurance. It updates these guides as federal and state policies change. A number of non-profit organizations help fund its research. Learn more about the Health Policy Institute.

Review Georgetown's guide for Hawaii.

USNews health insurance rankings for Hawaii

US News does an annual ranking of what it considers the best health insurance plans in each state. Visit its reports on various health insurance or medical insurance plans being offered in Hawaii.

Official State Goverment Sites with Hawaii Health Insurance Information

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Services Health Insurance Page -- Health insurance resources from the state of Hawaii including severable downloadable PDFs

Med-QUEST -- A program which provides health insurance coverage to eligible Hawaiians It covers all ages 64 and under but has certain requirements and income eligibility guidelines.

Hawaii’s Fee-For-Service Medicaid Program -- serves people age 65 and over, or certified blind or disabled, coverage is provided underthis program where providers are paid directly for their services. For all other individuals, coverage is provided under a managed care program called Hawaii QUEST.