• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

First 6,000 Calls to California Uninsured Help Line Underscore Need for Better Access to Medi-Cal and Other Public Health Programs

Posted on: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 15:00 CST

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On the first anniversary of its operation, the founder of the California Uninsured Help Line, a free call-in center for Californians seeking public health care programs, affirmed that the sheer number of calls received clearly point to a single major need. California must do a better job to educate the uninsured about public programs that are "on the books" but underutilized.

Of the nearly 6,371 calls reviewed, the majority were from Californians (5,268) seeking to qualify for public health insurance. Of those seeking eligibility, women outnumbered men nearly two to one -- 3,590 versus 1,678 -- in calls to the help line.

The California Uninsured Help Line (800-234-1317), launched in March 2005, is staffed 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week with live counselors and interpreters who speak multiple languages, and offers basic screening for both public and private low cost health insurance. They help callers identify their potential options and connect them to the correct agency and program representatives. The multilingual call center can also directly refer the caller to the appropriate state sponsored program according to various medical conditions and then guide the caller to obtain the appropriate health coverage.

Help Line founder and Foundation For Health Coverage Education (FHCE) Executive Director Phil Lebherz asserts that nearly half the people in California who are uninsured would receive public coverage if they knew how to access the system. He indicated an analysis of the Help Line's calls concluded that more effort is needed from state agencies to push the message that these programs are available. "Too many people find out they are eligible for Medicaid and other public programs only when there is a medical emergency. If they could enroll in these programs when they are healthy there is less need to treat them at the emergency services levels which are the most costly mode of care you can provide," said Lebherz.

The calls generated to the Help Line by the public were in response to a statewide public service campaign via radio stations aired in English and Spanish, as well as public service newspaper notices and articles written about the "Coverage for All" program.

After discovering that nearly half (2.9 million) of California's estimated 6.6 million uninsured are eligible for government health insurance but not signed up, the Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE), along with other nonprofit health coverage organization grants created the assistance line in 2005 as part of a statewide community education campaign to reduce the ranks of the uninsured.

The Foundation has also produced a California Health Care Options Matrix, the only user-friendly, hand-held guide available outlining all of California's public and private low cost health coverage options. The Matrix features a complete overview of the options available for almost every demographic profile, as well as a quick-reference list of phone numbers and web sites.

"Numerous public health care programs and government mandates were created by well-meaning legislators to help those in need, yet there is little awareness of these programs by the people who need them," said Lebherz. "The eligibility and enrollment process can be confusing. It is our goal to make anyone living in California aware of his or her options and show them how to sign up," said Lebherz.

Of the data tallied during the first 12 months, the Help Line recorded that the majority of calls came from adults trying to see if they qualified for public programs. Approximately 8% of the calls related to how to sign up children for public health programs (Healthy Families). Calls were also received from people whose COBRA insurance had run out and were seeking to find additional coverage to replace it. "Many people don't know there is a HIPPA program in California to pick up when COBRA ends if a person has not been able to obtain new group or individual coverage and continues to have significant health problems," said Lebherz. Another 120 calls were received from mothers-to-be seeking health coverage. "Our call center is able to put them in touch with the state's Aid to Infants and Mothers (AIM) program which provides comprehensive health care coverage during a pregnancy and delivery," said Lebherz. "The remaining calls came from providers, social workers and others seeking information to help the uninsured. A total of 41,000 copies of the English and Spanish Matrix, and 46,368 copies of the consumer pamphlet about health insurance have been distributed in response to the calls."

"Proponents of government-run health care believe it will be easy to access good care under a single system. However, we have found that there is very uneven access to Medi-Cal information for those who are qualified," said Lebherz.

The California Uninsured Help Line is just one of several community outreach services offered by the FHCE. In addition to educational seminars for health and social service related professionals, the FHCE offers free brochures such as the California Health Care Options Matrix(TM), a quick reference guide, and Finding Coverage in California(TM), a consumer-friendly booklet, both available in English and Spanish.

A full report of data from the 2005-6 call reports is available by contacting the FHCE at 1-650-762-1928.

Media Contacts: Marilyn Haese Bobbi Rubinstein Haese & Wood (310) 556-9612

Foundation For Health Coverage Education

CONTACT: Marilyn Haese or Bobbi Rubinstein, both of Haese & Wood,+1-310-556-9612, for Foundation For Health Coverage Education

Source: PRNewswire

More News in this Category