REALLY... WHY? AT WHAT COST?
AMERICA's AFFORDABLE CARE ACT? AFFORDABLE TO WHO? How big is the Bureaucracy needed to support this?

http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/pcip05062011a.html

State by State Enrollment in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, as of March 31, 2011 

The Affordable Care Act created the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program to make health insurance available to Americans denied coverage by private insurance companies because of a pre-existing condition.  Coverage for people living with such conditions as diabetes, asthma, cancer, and HIV/AIDS has often been priced out of the reach of most Americans who buy their own insurance, and this has resulted in a lack of coverage for millions. The temporary program covers a broad range of health benefits and is designed as a bridge for people with pre-existing conditions who cannot obtain health insurance coverage in today’s private insurance market.  In 2014, all Americans – regardless of their health status – will have access to affordable coverage either through their employer or through new competitive marketplaces called Exchanges, and insurers will be prohibited from charging more or denying coverage to anyone based on the state of their health.

The PCIP program is administered by either the State or the Federal government:  23 States and the District of Columbia elected to have their PCIP program administered by the Federal government while 27 States have chosen to run their own programs.

The PCIP program began accepting applications for enrollment this summer (July 1 for the Federal program, dates for State programs varied).  The chart below details the date when each State began providing benefits to people accepted into the program and the number of people enrolled in the program by each State as of March 31, 2011.

PRE-EXISTING CONDITION INSURANCE PLAN: Number of People Enrolled, as of March 31, 2011

Alabama- 77

Alaska-   32

Arizona- 374

Arkansas- 198

California- 1543

Colorado- 617

Connecticut- 51

Delaware- 41

District of Columbia- 15

Florida- 770

Georgia- 515

Hawaii- 24

Idaho- 43

Illinois- 1150

Indiana- 177

Iowa- 129

Kansas- 161

Kentucky- 77

Louisiana- 121

Maine- 13

Maryland- 298

Massachusetts*- 0

Michigan- 184

Minnesota- 37

Mississippi- 71

Missouri- 289

Montana- 198

Nebraska- 49

Nevada- 147

New Hampshire- 123

New Jersey- 416

New Mexico- 322

New York- 847

North Carolina- 1106

North Dakota- 6

Ohio- 1024

Oklahoma- 262

Oregon- 734

Pennsylvania- 2684

Rhode Island- 102

South Carolina- 309

South Dakota- 94

Tennessee- 255

Texas- 1298

Utah- 223

Vermont*- 0

Virginia- 268

Washington- 304

West Virginia- 18

Wisconsin- 456

Wyoming- 61 

  Total 18313