West Virginia Health Insurance

How healthy is living in West Virginia?

West Virgina climbed five spots higher – from 44th to 39th – in the 2008 ranking of the healthiest states by the United Health Foundation.

The state's best and worst category rankings:

• Prevalence of binge drinking – 5th
• Public health funding – 7th
• Premature death – 43rd
• Cardiovascular deaths – 46th
• Prevalence of obesity – 46th
• Occupational fatalities – 46th
• Children (under 18) in poverty – 48th
• Air pollution – 48th
• Cancer deaths – 48rd
• Prevalence of smoking – 49th
• Preventable hospitalizations – 49th
• Poor physical health days – 49th
• Poor mental health days – 50th

See the United Health Foundation's latest findings on West Virginia.

Does West Virginia have a risk pool for the uninsurable?

West Virginia Health Insurance Plan
1-866-445-8491

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 West Virginia

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

USNews health insurance rankings for West Virginia

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 West Virginia.

Official State Goverment Sites with West Virginia Health Insurance Information

West Virginia Children's Health Insurance Program (WVCHIP) -- a low cost health care plan for children and teenagers of working families.

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources -- administers programs aimed toward the citizens of West Virginia.

West Virginia Medicaid Program -- information on the federal/state program to provide health coverage for those without the means to pay for it.