Get Healthy BERGEN. The Newsletter of the Bergen County CHIP Access to Health Care. September 2010 FALL 2010

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Theodore Jenkins
6 years ago
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HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR ADULT CHILDREN The recently enacted health care reform legislation brings dramatic change for families who receive their health care coverage through their employer.

regardless of that child's marital or student status.

1 Get Healthy BERGEN The Newsletter of the Bergen County CHIP Access to Health Care September 2010 FALL 2010 Welcome to CHIP Access to HealthCare Please watch your for our quarterly newsletters. We provide current information and resources for health care and NJ FamilyCare health insurance. HEALTH INSURANCE FOR YOUR ADULT CHILDREN The recently enacted health care reform legislation brings dramatic change for families who receive their health care coverage through their employer. A new provision requires that if an employer offers group health insurance which provides coverage for the employees' children, that coverage must be available until the child reaches age 26, regardless of that child's marital or student status. Before this law, many health plans removed young adults from their parents' policies because of their age, leaving many young adults with no coverage. Plans are prohibited from charging an additional premium for these adult children. Plans may use a tiered system for charges, such as charging more for the number of individuals added to the group health plan (e.g., employee only, employee + 1, employee + 2). The charges must be consistent and uniform and may not vary based on the age of the child.

Free Health Care for Uninsured Working Adults The Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc.

2 The date this rule goes into effect depends on the employer's plan dates. If your family has health insurance through your employer, ask about this important new change so that your child continues to have health insurance. Free Health Care for Uninsured Working Adults The Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, Inc. (BVMI) provides free primary and preventive medical care to Bergen County residents who are working, earn between 100% and 200% of the prevailing federal poverty guideline, and have no health insurance of any kind. Patients are seen by appointment. BVMI follows the model of Volunteers in Medicine and is the most urban of the 74 such facilities in the nation. BVMI is completely dependent on individuals, civic organizations, and foundations for their time and donations. With a population of over 900,000 and a high median household income, Bergen County, NJ ranks among the ten most prosperous counties in the United States. Yet 13% of Bergen residents live below 200% of the federal poverty level which for a family of four is $44,100. Since opening its doors in November 2009, there has been over 550 patient visits to BVMI. The BVMI Healthcare Center is located at 241 Moore Street, Hackensack, NJ. An appointment for eligibility assessment is required before a patient can be seen. For more information or for an appointment, phone Health Access 101: The Road to Health Care On 3/25/10 the CHIP responded to the increased need for low cost or free health care services by sending out a call asking partners to showcase their low cost and free

3 health care services. More than 25 providers, 12 presenters and 155 participants attended the first annual symposium and resource fair: Health Access 101: The Road to Health Care. All participants walked away with new information on how to access affordable or free health care services. Access to health care took a big step forward. As a result of that symposium more BC children and families will be insured by NJ FamilyCare. More children will have their teeth examined. More women without health insurance will have mammograms. Residents with no prescription drug plans can be referred to CVS, Walgreens, PAAD Program, Bergen Regional Medical Center, Bergen County Wellness Discount Program and Pharmaceutical sponsored programs. Uninsured people with diabetes can contact the Diabetes Foundation, Inc. Families with sick children can be referred to the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund and the Shriners Hospital. Reduced fee mental health and substance abuse treatment services were publicized. Information on the BC Housing, Health and Human Services Center for homeless people was available. Check Healthy Bergen for more information. NJ Family Care Health Insurance for Children NJ Family Care, a federal and state funded health insurance program, provides health insurance to New Jersey's uninsured children. It is for families who do not have available or affordable employer insurance, and cannot afford to pay the high cost of private health insurance. A NJ FamilyCare representative can assist you with completing your application at the following locations: Bergen County Board of Social Services 216 Route 17, Rochelle Park, NJ Enrollment every Monday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lyndhurst Health Department 253 Stuyvesant Avenue Lyndhurst, NJ Tuesday, September 14, :30-3:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 2, :30-3:00 p.m. Holy Name Medical Center 718 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ Saturday September 25, :00 a.m.-noon Marian Hall, Conference Room 1 Enter through the Main Lobby Please bring originals and copies of the following required documents when enrolling: 1. Social security card & birth certificate for each applicant 2. Proof of household income (the most recent month) for each job and for all other income. 3. Resident Alien Card, other immigration documentation, or proof of parent's US military service for

4 children who are not US citizens 4. Proof of any other health insurance and/or letter you received when health insurance ended. NJ Family Care: Online Application Bergen County Ranks 3rd in Health Behaviors in NJ A recent study compiled by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin's Population Health Institute indicates that the efforts of the Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP) of Bergen County to improve the lives and health of people living in Bergen County have contributed to improved health behaviors. The County Health Rankings report indicates that Bergen County is in the top 5 for most of the categories measured and third in the area of health behaviors which include measures of alcohol and tobacco use, unsafe sex, diet and exercise. The study indicates that where we live matters to our health and that there are big health differences across communities. Counties can get a snapshot of how healthy their residents are by comparing their overall health and the factors that influence their health with other counties in their state. This snapshot enables county health administrators and officials to see where they are doing well and where improvements are needed. To see the health rankings for each New Jersey county, go to and click on the State of NJ. To view the Community Health Improvement Plan for Bergen County or learn more about the Partnership visit the CHIP of Bergen County's website The plan is available in English, Spanish and Korean. In This Issue Health Insurance for Your Adult Children Free Health Care for Uninsured Working Adults Health Access 101: The Road to Health Care NJ FamilyCare Bergen County Ranks 3rd in Health Behaviors in NJ

5 NJHelps Allows individuals to self-screen eligibility for nearly 30 social, housing and utility assistance programs including, Food Stamps, NJ FamilyCare and Low Income Heating, Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). NJ Family Care Health Insurance for New Jersey's uninsured children. NJ FamilyCare ADVANTAGE Provides information and an application on low-cost health insurance for families above 350% of the federal poverty level. NJ 211 A database of local services that is customized by person through category-specific entries (such as food assistance or health care) and by need, which is assessed through individual survey responses. NJ Food Stamps NJ Health Link Provides information about health related services with links to treatment screening services, including emergency, mental health, addiction, prescription drugs, nutrition, long-term care, insurance, financial assistance and vocational rehabilitation resources. Access to Dental Care Bergen County Community College Dental Hygiene Clinic Exams/Teeth Cleaning: $20 Sealants: $5 per tooth X-rays: $15 full mouth $5 single xray Fluoride Treatment: $5 Hours: Mon., Wed. Fri. 8:30 a.m. or 1:00 pm Call to schedule an appointment.... North Hudson Community Action Corporation 535 Midland Ave, Garfield, NJ and 110 Main Ave, Passaic, NJ

6 North Hudson Community Action Corporation The North Hudson Community Action Corporation runs two centers in Bergen County where you can enroll for health care. For more information about the Hackensack and Garfield locations, visit NHCAC, or call Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative 241 Moore Street, Hackensack, NJ Free primary and preventive medical care to Bergen County residents who are working, meet income requirements, and have no health insurance. Appointment required for eligibility assessment is required before a patient can be seen. BVMI NJ Family Care NJ Family Care is a federal and state funded health insurance program intended to provide health insurance to New Jersey's uninsured children and certain low-income parents and guardians. It is for families who do not have available or affordable employer insurance, and cannot afford to pay the high cost of private health insurance. Access to Health Care Task Force A task force of the Community Health Improvement Partnership of Bergen County (CHIP) CHIP is comprised of 50 community organizations that are stakeholders in the health of Bergen County.

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FAQ

AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FAQ What is the Healthcare Insurance Marketplace? The Marketplace is a new way to find quality health coverage. It can help if you don t have coverage now or if you have it but want