For most, it might be.
But if we get truly back to the basics, you realize that if you're not healthy, you can't work, much less find a job.
In continuing to focus on what is GREAT about Michigan, instead of the
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I've always said the best offense is a good defense.
Glad to see Ingham County is taking that to heart when it comes to county health care.
As mentioned last month by LLP-endorsed County Commissioner Curtis Hertel Jr., county residents now have a new health-benefits program for the uninsured. The Ingham Health Plan is designed for low-income residents who don't have health insurance. But, it is not actual health insurance, it's a health-benefits program. If it sounds confusing, you're not alone. I had to read it a couple times before I actually got it. Courtesy of Dr. Dean Siekno, Medical Director for the Ingham County Health Department.
The Ingham Health Plan offers benefits in primary care, specialty services, most outpatient laboratory and x-ray services, and pharmaceuticals under a restricted, yet reasonable formulary.
The program does not pay for inpatient hospitalization. Philosophically the IHP intends to use its resources to provide primary care services to a greater number of people; the intent is that access to primary care services for greater numbers of people will avert unnecessary emergency room visits and preventable hospitalizations.
-snip-County officials estimate that less than 80 percent of young adults between 18 and 24 years of age have health insurance while almost 100 percent of adults over age 55 have coverage.
Income is another significant factor — less than 80 percent of persons with annual household incomes under $20,000 per year have health insurance while nearly 100 percent of those with incomes over $50,000 are covered.
The IHP has two benefit programs: Plan A and Plan B.
Plan A offers more robust benefits, but to qualify for Plan A a person can earn no more than a meager $285 per month.
For Plan B, a version with more modest benefits, a single person can qualify with an income slightly above $2,000 per month, while a family of four can qualify with an annual household income of about $50,000.
This is all part of the policy that the County Commission adopted to assure accessible healthcare as a top priority for all residents.
The program does have co-pays but these are generally only between $2-$10 depending on the service and the plan that each member is enrolled in.
Of course, as with any health benefits package, there are restrictions, but after looking them over, they seem relatively reasonable. I even had the opportunity (strictly by chance) to speak with someone enrolled with the IHP this weekend while I was getting my hair done, all of things. She was definitely happy to have some coverage, but had a couple complaints, mostly due to the lack of coverage for emergency room visits, but overall, grateful that county even offered the program.
I encourage you to check out all the details, read the fine print (there isn't much) ask questions, call the information line provided and see if this something for you or someone you know.
Ingham County Health Plan Information Page
While you're there, if you or someone you know are a small business owner in Ingham County looking to provide affordable healthcare for your employees, check out the Ingham County Advantage program.
Kudos to Ingham's Board of County Commissioners for doing their part to keep Mid-Michigan great and healthy, all the while keeping the cost to tax-payers reasonable. I hope to speak for others when I say I hope this by no means a stopping point, but rather an excellent point to continue to build up on.
*Hear what folks on the statewide (MichiganLiberal) and national scene have to say about the IHP (DailyKos). You might be surprised!*
2 comments:
Local governments don't really have the resources to be funding this kind of thing. It's an ok idea, but it's better off at the state and national levels. There's little incentive for local governments to pursue these policies. And, to an extent, they're already doing this if the local government runs the hospital and associated clinics, they're probably already providing this sort of service. Plus, what happens when the plant closes, and Wal-Mart opens a distribution center in the next county?
A large number of Michigan Counties have this program known as Adult Benefit Waiver Plan B, but use different names in different counties--it is not unique to Ingham. A person applies for Plan B at their health department. Plan A is applied for at their local Department of Human Services, though the program is "frozen" for roughly 9 to 11 months each year. In other words, you can only apply during the months they are accepting applications.
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