Montana Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Montana?

Montana fell just below the midpoint of the 50 states in 2009, ranking as the 26th healthiest state, according to the United Health Foundation.

The good news:

• Montana was rated among the top 10 states in five categories this year, including a #3 ranking for incidence of infectious disease. The state had just 3.5 cases of infection disease per 100,000 population in 2009.

The bad news:

• Statistics revealed that immunization coverage for children ages 19 to 35 months had worsened, falling form 75 percent to 65.5 percent.
• Meanwhile, the prevalence of obesity in the state has been on the rise, climbing from 18.8 percent to 24.2 percent of the population over the past five years.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Infectious disease – #3
• Cardiovascular deaths – #7
• Air pollution – #8
• Prevalence of obesity – #9
• High school graduation – #10
• Violent crime – #12
• Occupational fatalities – #45
• Geographic disparity – #47
• Immunization coverage – #50

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

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

Georgetown University's Guide to Health Insurance in Montana

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 Montana.

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.