Poor Process Prevents Uninsured From Using Provided Help
Right now, there are over 12 Million uninsured Americans who are eligible for Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program but are in no way enrolled for them. That is more than 1/4th the total number of uninsured people in America, and unfortunately half of them are children.
A report done by the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation has found that the reason these insurance opportunities are missed is due to the fact that few know how to enroll these programs or even have knowledge that they exist. What is worse is that the complexity of the enrollment and re-enrollment process for these government benefits programs can be overwhelming enough to keep those in need of healthcare assistance from receiving aid they are eligible for.
In an attempt to keep the healthcare assistance from being dispersed to non-citizens, the Medicaid enrollment process has actually become harder to prove eligibility for those in need and has even led to enrollment denials for those who are actually eligible. An American Hospital Association report stated that in 2006, over $31.2 billion in uncompensated healthcare assistance was spent by the hospitals and healthcare providers. With a majority of that cost coming from assisting uninsured patients, it would be in the best interest of everyone for these processes to be more readily available and easier to apply for.
Instead of going without healthcare coverage or letting someone you know go without insurance, take advantage of our comprehensive directory of government benefits programs that provide you with the information you need to determine if you are eligible and how you can go about enrolling.
Additional assistance is also available in through prescription assistance programs provided by major pharmaceutical companies. These prescription assistance programs provide their medications at no cost or low cost to those who are eligible. To determine your eligibility, please search for your prescription drug through our complete database of all available patient assistance programs, which includes their eligibility requirements and guidance on how to apply and reapply.