Getting assistance to pay your doctor
The U.S. Census Bureau announced in September 2009 that more than 46 million Americans lacked health insurance. These American citizens or residents need help when accidents or illnesses require health care. Persons who already have group health insurance that covers the cost of treating their health problems face financial disaster when job loss threatens to take away their only way to afford health care. Health insurance assistance programs and statutes help Americans get the health care they need and keep the health insurance they already have.
Medicaid Assistance
Medicaid is a federal program administered through individual states. The program provides health insurance coverage to certain groups of people with low income and limited resources who need health insurance or help filling coverage gaps in their policies. The mandated groups to receive coverage are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants who are age 65, disabled, blind or pregnant women. Individuals apply at county social service offices.
Health Insurance Assistance for Children
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The law provides federal funding to help states insure low-income children whose parents' income or resources make them ineligible for Medicaid, but isn't enough to buy private insurance. CHIP insures more than 5 million children. The same county offices that accept Medicaid applications process the CHIP application.
Keeping Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandated that employers provide health coverage that includes pre-existing conditions for new employees who have lost health insurance coverage when changing jobs or due to other specific life events. Individual states administer and often enhance the protection. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners provides links to every state on their website, Naic.org.
COBRA
The 1988 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) protects many employees, retirees and their dependents from loss of health insurance due to job loss. The law does not require employers to pay for the coverage but limits the amount of the premiums. Employees terminated on or before May 31, 2010, may receive reduced premiums if they qualify for help according to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Employees seeking help paying COBRA premiums can call Department of Labor Benefits Advisers at 1-866-444-3272.
New Assistance through the Affordable Health Care Act
Many individuals with low income and resources do not qualify for Medicaid because they are not pregnant, aged, disabled or blind. The health reform legislation Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 created Medicaid eligibility for persons who might otherwise not qualify. The law allows--but does not mandate--states to start covering individuals as of April 1, 2010. The law provides federal funds to encourage states to insure these groups immediately instead of 2014 when coverage becomes mandatory.
Help with Health Insurance Premiums
The Help Insurance Premium Payment Program (HIPP) pays the employer group health insurance premiums for Medicaid recipients so they will not lose this coverage. Individuals can continue to use the same health care providers. They will still have health insurance if they later are able to exit the Medicaid program. States pay premiums only if doing so would save costs for the Medicaid program. Individuals apply through their local Medicaid office.
