Unemployed and Uninsured
Health insurance helps
you and your family access the health care you need, when you need it, and
without causing financial stress or hardships. If you currently do not have
health
insurance because you are unemployed or are employed but cannot afford your
employer’s health insurance plan, you may qualify for one or more of the
following health insurance assistance programs.
Eligibility for these programs is usually based on
income, age, disability, and health status.
The Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment
Program is designed for women under age 65 who have been diagnosed with breast
or cervical cancer through the federally funded Alabama Breast and Cervical
Cancer Early Detection Program. Women who are Alabama residents and U.S.
citizens and do not have credible
health
insurance may qualify. For more information regarding the federal screening
program, you can call 1-877-252-3324.
The Alabama Child Caring Foundation (ACCF) is a
private foundation established by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama
(1-800-726-2289). ACCF provides
health
insurance to uninsured children ages 18 and under whose parents earn too
much to qualify for government-assisted medical care but cannot afford to pay
for health
insurance through their employer or on their own. For more information and
enrollment, call 205-220-5929 or visit the ACCF web site.
The Alabama Farmers Federation/ALFA is a
membership-based organization that offers
health
insurance through its Alfa Health Plan, which is administered by Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Alabama. Membership to AFF is open to anyone living in the
state of Alabama. In order to qualify for the Alfa Health Plan, you must be an
AFF member, in good health, under age 65, and not eligible for coverage under
any Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama group health plan or Medicare. For
more information, telephone 334-288-3900 or visit the
AFF web site.
ALL Kids is the Children’s Health Insurance
Program offered by the Alabama Department of Public Health for children under
age 19. ALL Kids helps families who do not qualify for Medicaid because they
make too much money or do not earn enough to get private
health
insurance or participate in an employer’s
health
insurance benefit. (Family size and income determine eligibility under ALL
Kids.) Applications are available at any county health department or Department
of Human Resources office, as well as most hospitals, day care centers, and
doctor’s offices. You can also apply online at the ALL Kids web site or
call 1-888-373-KIDS to have an application mailed to you.
The Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) is a federal tax
credit that pays 65% of qualified health plan premiums for eligible
trade-impacted workers and certain Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)
benefit recipients. If you are eligible, HCTC is available to you as a
refundable tax credit on your federal tax return and as an advance tax credit
claimed monthly to help you pay your health plan premiums as they become due.
To learn about the eligibility requirements for HCTC and find out about how you
can claim the credit, visit the HCTC resource page on the Internal Revenue
Service web site.
Back to top
Medicaid is a state/federal program that pays for
medical and long-term care services for low-income pregnant women, children,
certain people on Medicare, disabled individuals and nursing home residents.
These individuals must meet certain income and other requirements. You can
apply for Medicaid online or in person at designated Medicaid application
offices. For more information, call 1-334-242-5000 or
visit the Medicaid web site.
The Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) offers the
Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP) to all
full-time employees of any public education institute within the state of
Alabama and their dependents. Part-time employees and their dependents (who are
not substitute or transient employees) are also eligible.
PEEHIP provides financial assistance to qualifying
members based on their federal poverty level (FPL). Persons with a combined
family income of 200% or less of the amount set in federal poverty guidelines
qualify for a PEEHIP FPL Premium Discount on their hospital, medical, or health
maintenance organization (HMO) premium.
Go to the PEEHIP Family Income Table to find
out whether you meet income requirements.
PEEHIP CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
is offered to children of public education employees who qualify for the FPL
Premium Discount. The PEEHIP CHIP program is a low copay program for children
under the age of 19 who would normally qualify for the PEEHIP Hospital Medical
Plan.
PEEHIP CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
is offered to children of public education employees who qualify for the FPL
Premium Discount.
For more information on PEEHIP, PEEHIP FPL Premium
Discount, and the PEEHIP CHIP program, contact RSA at 1-800-214-2158 or
visit
the RSA web site.
SECHIP is a
health
insurance plan for children (newborn through 18 years of age) of low income
(100-200% federal poverty level) state employees and retirees.
A child is eligible for coverage under SECHIP if the
child is:
- Eligible for coverage as a dependent under the
State
Employees Health Insurance Plan (SEHIP)
- Under 19 years of age
- In a family with an income from 100% to 200% of the
federal poverty level; (examples of income are: wages, commissions, salaries,
Social Security benefits, child support, unemployment compensation benefits,
and cash contributions from friends or relatives.)
- Ineligible for Medicaid
- Not covered by another
health
insurance plan (excluding SEHIP and supplemental coverages)
- Not in an institution
For more information contact the State Employees
Insurance Board at 800-513-1384 or 334-883-5900.
Back to top
|
