Montana Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Montana?

Montana fell five spots – from 18th to 23rd – in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• Montana received #8 rankings in three categories with favorable ratings for its low prevalence of obesity (22.6 percent of the state's population), for its air pollution level, and for having a low incidence of cardiovascular deaths (252.4 per 100,000 population).
• The state's best ranking, however, was for its rate of infectious disease. Just two states had higher rankings in the category measuring the incidence of infectious disease. Just two states had a higher ranking in that category.

The bad news:

• While Montana held steady with the same ranking in four of 22 categories measured by the UHF report in 2008, the state had worse rankings in 13 more categories compared to 2007.
• The state ranked near the bottom (46th) in terms of immunization coverage and 47th in the category measuring geographic disparity &nash; the variation among mortality rates among the state's counties.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Infectious disease – 3rd
• Prevalence of obesity – 8th
• Air pollution – 8th
• Cardiovascular deaths – 8th
• Immunization coverage – 46th
• Geographic disparity – 47th

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

Does Montana have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Montana Comprehensive Health Association
Toll-free 1-800-447-7828

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 poolto 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. Find more on risk pools here.

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

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 Montana and all other states.
• Its guide on how to find health insurance in Montana.
• Materiales En Español – Guías para encontrar cobertura de seguro de salud.

USNews health insurance rankings for Montana

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 Montana.

Official State Goverment Sites with Montana Health Insurance Information

Montana Medicaid Provider Information -- helping the state's lowest income individuals and families.

Montana's CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Plan) -- CHIP is a low-cost, private health insurance plan which provides health insurance to eligible children age 18 and under. Children qualify for CHIP based on family size and income.

Health Care Advocacy Groups in Montana

Forward Montana – Forward Montana is a volunteer-run organization advocating guaranteed affordable coverage for every American.

Montanans for Single-Payer – Montanans for Single-Payer is a statewide group formed to affect the current national debate on health care reform. The group is committed to true universal health care, a Medicare-type system where everyone is in and no one is out.