High-risk insurance pool accepts patients with pre-existing conditions

Consumers previously rejected by insurers or forced to wait six months for coverage because they have costly medical problems are starting to get benefits from a new statewide program for uninsured people. Michigan's high-risk pool began offering coverage Oct. 1 and already some people are booking surgeries, doctor visits and treatments long delayed because they had no way to pay for them. Deri Mick of Swartz Creek and Kathleen Bautista of Onaway are among the first to get coverage.