Public and Private Assistance
Resources
Going without health insurance is a risky gamble. Experts believe medical bills are a factor in one out of five bankruptcies, and the direct cause in one out of 10. Unfortunately, even with the relatively inexpensive
Health Savings Account plans not
everyone can afford health insurance, so it's important that these
people consider any public and private program resources they might be eligible
for to reduce their out of pocket costs for health care and
prescriptions.
Below is a list of public assistance programs and resources
available for many children, pregnant women, most Americans over age
65, the disabled, and people with uninsurable health conditions.
There are also assistance programs for individuals and families that meet certain guidelines:
Benefits
Check-Up - BenefitsCheckUp is a free online service that helps thousands of people every day to connect to government programs that can help them pay for prescription drugs, health care, utilities, and other needs.
Colorado
Access - A nonprofit health plan that provides healthcare coverage for low-income people and people with disabilities in Colorado. If you receive Medicaid, you can choose Access Health Plan as your health plan.
Colorado Health
Plan Plus (CHP+) - low-cost health insurance program for
uninsured Colorado children ages 18 and under whose families earn or
own too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private
insurance. CHP+ also offers benefits to pregnant women and new
borns. The CHP+ prenatal care program offers free health insurance to uninsured Colorado pregnant women who live in households that meet certain income requirements.
Colorado
Guide to Free and Low Cost Health Care for Pregnant Women - pdf
formatted document. The Piton Foundation compiled The Colorado Guide
to Free and Low-Cost Health Care for Pregnant Women and Children to
let uninsured families know what health care options are available
to them. List
of providers by county.
Colorado
Indigent Care Program - state program that provides partial
reimbursement to providers for offering medical care to eligible
underinsured and uninsured residents. This is not a
health insurance program. Services are restricted to participating
hospitals and clinics throughout the state. To qualify, you
must have income and resources combined at or below 185% of the
Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and cannot be eligible for Medicaid.
See site for more details.
CoverColorado
- non-profit entity created by the Colorado Legislature to provide
medical insurance for eligible Colorado residents who, because of a
pre-existing medical condition, are unable to get coverage from
private insurers. In addition, CoverColorado also serves as the
state's plan for individuals who are eligible under the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, otherwise known as
HIPAA.
Medicaid
General Information - Medicaid is a health care program for low
income Coloradans. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria for one
of the Medicaid Program categories in order to qualify for benefits.
Major program categories include Aid to Families with Dependent
Children/Medicaid Only, Colorado Works/TANF (Temporary Assistance
for Needy Families), Baby Care/Kids Care, Aid to the Needy Disabled,
Aid to the Blind, and Old Age Pension. To apply for Medicaid,
contact your local County Departments of Social/Human Services.
Medicaid
Eligibility for Families and Children - clients must meet
financial, medical, and program criteria to access waivered
services. The applicant's income must be less than $1,635 (300%, or
three times the monthly standard maintenance allowance) per month
and countable resources less than $2,000. The applicant must also be
at risk of institutional placement in a nursing facility, hospital,
or ICF/MR (intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded).
See site for more details
Medicaid
Eligibility for Long Term Care for the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled
- the resource limit is $2000 for an individual. The home, a
vehicle, a burial fund and household and personal goods worth $2000
are exempt. For further information about countable and exempt
resources, refer to Section 8.110.51. If the applicant is married,
and his/her spouse is not in a nursing facility or not on Medicaid,
spousal protection rules apply. See site for more
details.
Medicaid
Disability Determination Information - applications and other
resources
Medicaid
Federal Site - has some useful information and also a handy list
of Colorado's
Medicaid office address and phone numbers
Medicare
- Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover your inpatient
care in hospitals, including critical access hospitals, and skilled
nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover
hospice care and some home health care. You must meet certain conditions.
Most people don't have to pay a monthly payment, called a premium, for Part A. This is because they or a spouse paid Medicare
taxes while they were working. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover your doctors'
services and outpatient hospital care. It also covers some other
medical services that Part A doesn't cover, such as some of the
services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home
health care. You pay the Medicare
Part B premium each month* ($ 66.60 in 2004). In some cases, this
amount may be higher if you didn't sign up for Part B when you first
became eligible. The cost of Part B may go up 10% for each 12-month
period that you could have had Part B but didn't sign up for it,
except in special cases. You will have to pay this extra amount as
long as you have Part B.
Medicare
Prescription Part D Drug Plans - resources to help you find the right
Medicare prescription plan for your
needs. You might also want to use the Medicare
Rx plan finder web based tool.
Medicare
Rights Center - resource to help weave your way through the
Medicare maze.
Prescription Drug
Assistance - get financial assistance for prescription drugs
through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. PPA has
links to over 475 assistance programs and150 pharmaceutical company
programs.
Retirement
Benefits Calculator - great resource to help you plan for your
golden years.
Rx Outreach
- plan to help middle class and low income Coloradans with the
increasing costs of prescription drugs
Social Security
- government web site that is quite a nice resource and easy to
use.
Social Security
Benefits Screening Tool - see what programs you might qualify
for.
Social
Security Benefits for the Disabled - explains what benefits are
available, how you can qualify, and who can receive benefits on your
earnings record.
Uninsured
Americans Report: Sicker
and Poorer - report on the Consequences of Being Uninsured.
Veterans -
application for Veteran's benefits.
WIC
- special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children
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INFORMATION ONLY AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. COLORADO
HEALTH INSURANCE BROKERS DOES NOT WARRANT
ANY PERSON OR PERSONS' ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY OF
THE LISTED PROGRAMS OR WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS
ARE FOR ANY LISTED PROGRAMS OR THE
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