Health pool for pre-existing conditions to begin

MADISON, Wis.

A new state health insurance pool for an estimated 8,000 Wisconsin residents with pre-existing conditions partially funded with federal money will begin Aug. 1.

Gov. Jim Doyle announced Wednesday that applications for the new pool will be accepted starting Thursday on a first-come, first-served basis.

Creation of the state pool was authorized under the federal health care reform passed earlier this year. It will be paid for with premiums and $73 million in federal funding over three years.

The high-risk pool will be available until 2014 when federal law requires insurers to cover all applicants.