Utah Health Insurance

How healthy is living in Utah?

Utah edged closer to the top in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation. The state climbed one spot to #5 in this year's analysis.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of smoking – 1st
• Cancer deaths – 1st
• Preventable hospitalizations – 2nd
• Prevalence of binge drinking – 3rd
• Cardiovascular deaths – 3rd
• Poor physical health days – 4th
• Infant mortality – 4th
• Infectious disease – 5th
• Premature death – 6th
• Violent crime – 7th
• Prevalence of obesity – 7th
• Poor mental health days – 8th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 9th
• High school graduation – 9th (84.4 percent of ninth graders eventually graduate)
• Geographic disparity – 45th
• Number of primary care physicians – 45th

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

Does Utah have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

Utah Comprehensive Health Insurance Pool
Toll-free 1-800-705-9173 or (801) 442-6660

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.

Mini-meds a guaranteed-issue option for those who are medically uninsurable

An option for the medically uninsurable is a guaranteed-issue mini-med health insurance plan. There is no underwriting and no health questions are asked.

These plans provide basic coverage but are not designed to help with catastrophic expenses. They can often count as creditable coverage, eliminating the waiting period for pre-existing conditions if you later move to an employer-based plan. Read more here.

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

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

USNews health insurance rankings for Utah

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 Utah.

Official State Goverment Sites with Utah Health Insurance Information

Utah Department of Human Services: Insurance Programs -- Medicare, Medicaid and long term health insurance information.

Utah Children's Health Insurance Program -- families who cannot afford to buy health insurance for their children may be eligible for health coverage through the Utah CHIP.

Advocacy

Utah Health Policy Project -- a resource for the public, community leaders, businesses, health care providers and policy makers interested in strengthening the health care system while working to develop visionary and systemic solutions to the crisis of the uninsured and under-insured.

Democracy for Utah: Heath Care -- a resource for the public, community leaders, businesses, health care providers and policy makers interested in strengthening the health care system while working to develop visionary and systemic solutions to the crisis of the uninsured and under-insured.