Ganny A Belloni’s Post

Five months after California expanded Medi-Cal to include undocumented immigrants, Contra Costa County is on track to insure a further 10,500 residents without legal status by extending county-run insurance to those who don’t meet Medi-Cal’s low income requirements. Contra Costa County health officials are beginning to slowly roll out the Basic Health Care (BHC) plan on May 15, and the plan will be fully opened to undocumented residents by June 1. Beginning this year, Medi-Cal expanded to undocumented immigrants. Between both health insurance plans, an additional 20,500 undocumented immigrants in the county now qualify for health insurance. But while advocates celebrate the expansions, this cohort of newly insured people are entering a health care system struggling with a workforce shortage. Read the full story by Jasmine Aguilera, with photos by Hiram Alejandro Durán. https://lnkd.in/dzXnFnYc

Illinois State in the United States to cut state-funded health care for illegal immigrants, green card holders after soaring costs The health programs for illegal immigrants were estimated to cost the state more than $1.1B Jamie Joseph By Jamie Joseph Fox News Published March 14, 2024 11:57am EDT Illinois officials are poised to slash a pair of state-funded health insurance programs that cover non-citizens and illegal immigrants, citing soaring costs that have surpassed their estimated projections. In a statement last week, the state announced changes would be coming to the eligibility requirements for the Healthcare Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Seniors program, as the cost to run the initiative ballooned to more than $1 billion over the last year. Illegal immigrants and non-citizen green card holders who have been in the U.S. for fewer than five years will no longer be covered by a pair of the state's health insurance programs beginning April 1, according to the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). "The Department is also committed to ensuring that individuals who are no longer eligible for benefits… receive helpful information about their options so they can connect to alternative coverage, particularly through the federal ACA Marketplace," the statement read. ILLINOIS HEALTH CARE PROGRAM FOR NONCITIZENS, INCLUDING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, BALLOONS TO $1.1B A photo of J.B. Pritzker Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. (Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images) HFS estimated at least 6,000 people will lose coverage come May 1. "The redetermination process ensures that those who are enrolled remain eligible for coverage," HFS spokesperson Jamie Munks told WBEZ Chicago in a statement. "If an individual loses coverage through the redetermination process, it is because they no longer meet eligibility requirements, or they are required to respond or submit additional information to prove their continued eligibility, but they do not do so." The state began providing Medicaid-like benefits to those 65 and over in 2020 and expanded it to those 42 and over last year. During a Joint Committee on Administrative Rules meeting on Tuesday, Healthcare and Family Services chief of staff Dana Kelly reportedly told lawmakers the state would save over $13 million by cutting out the ineligible recipients. Contd... below in comments

California becomes first state to offer health insurance to ALL undocumented immigrants In 2015, a bill signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown enabled undocumented children to enroll in Medi-Cal. This was followed by Gov. Gavin Newsom's signing of a law in 2019 that expanded full-scope Medi-Cal access to young adults aged 19 to 25, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. Later, access was extended to older adults aged 50 and above, also without considering their immigration status. Starting from January 1, the latest expansion will come into effect, allowing approximately 700,000 undocumented residents aged 26 to 49 to qualify for full coverage. #undocumented #healthcare #immigration

Eleven states and Washington, D.C., together provide full health insurance coverage to more than 1 million low-income immigrants regardless of their legal status, according to state data compiled by KFF Health News. Most aren’t authorized to live in the U.S., state officials say. Enrollment in these programs could nearly double by 2025 as at least seven states initiate or expand coverage. In January, Republican-controlled Utah will start covering children regardless of immigration status, while New York and California will widen eligibility to cover more adults. #healthinsurance #medicaid #medicalbilling #rcm

Rwanda has a well-recognised community-based health insurance programme, so how does our medical debt relief programme still make a difference? All Rwandans have had access to the Mutuelles de Sante, the local community-based health insurance since 1999. Rwandans are charged an annual premium based on their socio-economic status, which is divided into 4 different categories. The insurance prices range from $2.40 to $8.19 per person. This may seem affordable, but as of 2016, 52% of people in Rwanda live under the international poverty line of $2.15 (World Bank, 2023). Although people in Category 1 do not have to pay for the insurance, it only covers 90% of the treatment cost including essential drugs and medical services. Furthermore, Category 1 only makes up a small percentage of the 52% of people who live under the international poverty line, meaning many people in Category 2 will still find the insurance to be unaffordable. Additionally, patients across all categories will have to spend out of pocket for factors like transportation to appointments, hospital fees and additional costs such as food during hospital stays. Our Medical Debt Relief Project helps people in Category 2 pay the remaining costs that are not covered by their insurance. In addition, many patients that are referred to the hospitals we work with are those who need treatments requiring specialist medical doctors and treatments [e.g. surgical intervention, dental care, CT scans, laboratory tests, eye treatment, dialysis etc], which cost much more than an insurance payout. Read More: https://bit.ly/3JH62lw #MedicalDebt #Rwanda #HealthInsurance #GlobalHealth

This is a good article about the impact that cuts in any type of health insurance has on our economy and the importance of having people insured. However, I do believe. there's some facts that are being used that are misleading. People are now required to submit income that's verified versus submitting an unsubstantiated personal statement of a loss of income or an income that continues to make people eligible. Some eople also have moved and not updated their addresses with the county's Job and Family Services offices which can explain why some of the people have lost coverage. What I don't like is that in Ohio we have offices that are county-based so that if a person moves 5 mi over and happen to be in another County they have to reapply. You would think that that would be a simple task. However, my experience in assisting individuals who were receiving Medicaid is that one county Will say that they're not eligible for Medicaid in that particular County because the one in which they previously resided has an open case for them. So one case needs to be closed before the other can be even opened. In Massachusetts they actually have a much more effective system. There are regional offices where people actually have an assigned worker but if they relocate they simply have to update their information and not reapply. Perhaps if we had national healthcare, we would not see this headline. But we also wouldn't have stats about the healthcare economics of various cities either.

Today in every village in Kenya there is an informal grouping dubbed (in local language) "#JIZIKE" where members contribute as little as KES.20/= for final send off whenever a village member passes on. As it prepares to transition members from NHIF, the social health insurance fund (SHIF) should consider incorporating a funeral package as part of its offerings. This could be particularly valuable for retaining members from the informal sectors, which currently stand at 22%. In 2023, NHIF missed out on Kes.39 billion in #premiums, with 80% of #informalsector members defaulting on their monthly contributions. Funerals hold significant cultural importance in many societies, especially in informal sectors, and providing assistance with funeral expenses shows sensitivity to these cultural practices and fosters a sense of community support among members. Offering a funeral package has the potential to reduce #defaultrates on contributions, as members may be more motivated to maintain their payments knowing that the fund provides support not only for healthcare needs but also for funeral expenses. https://lnkd.in/dsR6Q5_Q

Learning from experience… This is a thing! Here I am, almost 2 years post repat and dealing with old medical bills from the US. Yes, you hear me correctly… Before leaving, I made sure all my bills were covered and paid. I called all my physicians and got confirmation from them all I could leave in peace. Well, I forgot they have no relocation knowledge and I had no Health Insurance understandings! 2 years during which I have been living my life in peace with no phone calls from their side, no emails and probably some mails under my name what got delivered to who knows whom. Then you get that one email in the spams that you believe being to be ignored and 💥 there it is. Old bills. Very old unpaid bills that nobody told you about. So here is the take away for all expats out there: 1. Keep written communication on bills payment 2. Call your physicians and health insurance a few months after your move to ensure you are in the clear 3. Do not panic. All problems have a solution May I relocate again in my life, I will definitely note this on the top of my list! Learning from experience… this is it! #repatriation #oddevents #surprise #experience

#DearSouthAfricans, It is of critical importance to read published documents gazetted and signedn into law to gain understanding based on facts to inform your perspective and views about new laws governing our country.I therefore,suggest that you read the NHI bill thoughly. A brief and concise definition of what the NHI bill is and its purpose in the health care system.It is a document aligned to section 27 (1) subsection (a) that everyone has the right of access to good health care services and may not be denied emergency services. President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance Bill (NHI Bill) into law on 15 May 2024. Here is a summary of What You Need To Know about the new law, as well as an understanding of why some people are FOR or AGAINST it. THREAD: "Background of the NHI Bill:" Access to healthcare is a human right. Everyone is entitled to receive healthcare regardless of how rich they are or where they live. Many people rely on overcrowded public health facilities with very few health professionals and poor equipment. The bulk of the country’s healthcare specialists work in the private sector serving a small section of the population who have money. This system has locked out the poor who cannot afford a large number of health professionals and facilities in the private sector. The government has decided that it is time for the country to move to universal health coverage where everyone receives the quality healthcare regardless of his or her economic status. "So what is the NHI?" NHI is a health financing system that is designed to pool funds together to provide access to quality and affordable personal health services to all South Africans based on their health needs, irrespective of their socio-economic status. In other words, NHI is a form of "universal medical aid". This means there will be no fees charged when you visit a health facility because the NHI fund will cover the costs of your care. This health insurance will cover every South African, employed or unemployed, earning low income or high income. There will be no limited benefits because of the salary you earn or because you are unemployed Payments will be proportionate to people's earnings. People with low income will not be required to make any direct payment to the NHI Fund. Monthly contributions made by the employees to the fund, in almost all cases will be lower than medical aid tariffs. "Who will pay for the NHI?" 1. General taxes. Every person in South Africa will make a contribution to the fund because we all pay some kind of tax. 2. Every person earning above a set amount will be required by law to make a monthly contribution to the Fund. "How does the NHI affect your medical aid?" Few people will continue with medical scheme contributions, as it would be unnecessary & expensive to pay NHI contributions and medical scheme premiums. Individuals will be free to continue their medical scheme membership if they want