HC Reform Update from Mark Sanna: Trying to spur enrollment in a new health insurance program for uninsured people with pre-existing medical conditions, the federal government is doing something private insurers almost never do: slashing rates. That announcement Friday came as the government released the latest enrollment figures for these high risk insurance pools, which have attracted far fewer customers than expected. The program, established under the health law, began signing up enrollees in August and September. Not surprisingly, the states with lower rates have had higher enrollment.