eople who have pre-existing conditions. Until then, a Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan provides some relief. Some states operate their own PCIPs; in other states, the federal government runs the plans. Eligibility rules, annual deductibles and premiums vary slightly among states. The plan provides a full range of benefits and does not charge a higher premium if you're unhealthy. You can qualify, regardless of income. The potential hole: You must have gone without insurance for six months to qualify. J.P. Wieske, executive director for the Council for Affordable Health Insurance, says this might be one reason why enrollment is relatively low. "If you're sick, you can't wait six months," he says. 3. State high-risk insurance pools Like the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plans, these state plans are designed for people who are uninsurable because of health conditions. Minnesota and Connecticut set up the first such programs in 1976, and 34 states operated similar programs last year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The potential hole: Some programs require applicants to have gone without health insurance for a certain period of time to qualify. Check whether your state has a high-risk health insurance plan, and read the eligibility rules. 4. Medicaid Medicaid is a federal program, administered by the states, that provides health coverage to children, families, pregnant women, the elderly and people with disabilities In addition, 17 states have Health Insurance Premium Payment Programs, according to Ankeny Minoux, president of the Foundation for Health Coverage Education in San Jose, Calif. If you qualify for Medicaid and already have medical insurance coverage, this program pays the premiums so you can keep your coverage, versus using Medicaid. Income eligibility guidelines vary among states. The hole: Generally it's easier for children, pregnant women and elderly or disabled adults to qualify for Medicaid than for non-disabled parents. As of January 2011, 33 states limited eligibility for parents to less than the federal poverty level ($18,310 for a family of three in 2010), according to the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. 5. Children's Health Insurance Program Available in every state, this program provides free or low-cost health coverage for children of families who meet low-income guidelines. The eligibility requirements vary by state, but are more liberal than Medicaid eligibility. Generally children in families with incomes up to $44,100 a year for a family of four are eligible, but families can have higher incomes and still qualify in many states, according to the program’s website, InsureKidsNow.gov. Although the program won't cover a parent’s health care, it's worth investigating for your kids. The hole: You cannot enroll if you do not meet income eligibility requirements. 6. County and state insurance programs Beyond the big-name programs, such as Medicaid and CHIP, states run a variety of supplement programs to help people pay for health care. "California alone has 17 other programs that many people aren't aware of," Minoux says. The Foundation for Health Coverage Education provides a list of programs on its