Enrollment in high-risk pools is finally starting to take off the way most experts thought would happen once they became available, as premium decreases and outreach efforts by states and the federal government are starting to have an impact. A story in Politico today chronicles efforts in several states, and by the federal government, that have resulted in a doubling in high-risk pool enrollment in federally run pools in the last 75 days.

The New York Times provided an update today on the enrollment (or lack thereof) in high-risk pools across the country. We're in November, and as the Times points out, enrollment nationwide stands at 8,011. The chief actuary for Medicare and Medicaid initially estimated that 375,000 people would enroll in the high-risk pools this year, leading to many concerns that the $5 billion in funding Congress set aside for the pools in health reform would prove insufficient.

A letter dug up by our friends at HealthReformGPS appears to answer some of the questions we have been posing on this blog about the high-risk pool to cover those with pre-existing conditions.