A Summit County program to assist the working uninsured
Access to Care is a program that matches those who are eligible and uninsured with a volunteer physician who will provide regular care, as well as referrals to volunteer providers of specialty care and other medical care needs, according to Healthy Connections Network, the system that designed it.
Originally under the Healthy Communities Access program (HCAP), the initiative was restructured into what is now known as Access to Care. Access began taking enrollees in 2005 and currently has 246 participating physicians donating care.
In Summit County an estimated 69,000 residents are without health insurance. As a solution to this problem, the government awarded the Access to Care program a three- year Federal grant. This grant provides health care to those in Summit County who do not have access to insurance. The grant is for three years, with the second and third year fund distribution being based on available federal budget allowances. A local match is required and the United Way of Summit County is heading the organization of donations from area community partners.
To be eligible for Access to Care, you must be a resident of Summit County, employed, over the age of 18, below the 200 percentile of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and not have access to any other health insurance.
Upon admittance into the program, a nominal fee of twenty-five dollars will be assessed and then once every year there after. Access to Care will then assign the participant to a primary care physician. All of Summit County hospitals are included in the Access to Care program, so participants are able to go to the hospital of their choice.
Some services however are not covered under Access's program such as anesthesia, radiologists, certain emergency care, etc. Prescription assistance is available by mail and with discount cards by Executive Medicine and Ohio Best Rx to be used at local approved pharmacies. The estimated discount savings are twenty-five to thirty percent.
To find out if you or someone you know qualifies, you can call (330) 315-0209.
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