The Obama administration has not ruled out turning sick people away from an insurance program created by the new healthcare law to provide coverage for the uninsured.

Critics of the $5 billion high-risk pool program insist it will run out of money before Jan. 1, 2014. That’s when the program sunsets and health plans can no longer discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions.

Administration officials insist they can make changes to the program to ensure it lasts until 2014, and that it may not have to turn away sick people. Officials said the administration could also consider reducing benefits under the program, or redistributing funds between state pools. But they acknowledged turning some people away was also a possibility.

“There’s a certain amount of money authorized in the statute, and we will do our best to make sure that that amount of money insures as many people as possible and does as much good as possible,” said Jay Angoff, director of the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “I think it’s premature to say [what happens] when it’s gone.”

The administration has not discussed asking Congress for more money down the line if the $5 billion runs out before Jan. 1, 2014. Uninsured sick people could start applying for participation in the high-risk insurance pools on Thursday.

I seem to recall a "Cash for Clunkers" program that was setup in a way similar to this.  Not knowing how far the money would go, no plans to reconstitute it, no real plan at all.

When the money runs out, then what? Print more?

I know of a person that is in need of a doctors care and earn just over the limit to be ineligable for any state run Medicaid and not old enough for Medicare.  Just curious does anyone know where to go or how to go about appyling for this insurance.

Yes I know there are pit falls but the reality says she is in need of medical care and their insurance company does not cover her situation.  Her and her husband are self employed and pay for their own insurance they just need the one area covered that isn't by their insurance company.

Unfortunately, as I understand it, you can't opt in to specific portions - like for instance, just dental. It's an all or nothing program.

I'm sure we'll be seeing details on where to register in the coming days