Author: Hurtt Family Health Clinic

How Medi-Cal Helps Underserved Communities to Get Affordable Health Care

Posted on by Hurtt Family Health Clinic

Has healthcare become an option instead of a necessity because of the cost it entails? Do you weigh its importance against more pressing financial needs? Fortunately, there’s a Medicaid program in California that offers low-cost or free health coverage for individuals and families with no health insurance or limited resources. This program is called Medi-Cal.

 

What is Medi-Cal?

Medi-Cal is a state and federal government financed Medicaid program in California. Since 1966, it has been offering healthcare services to low-income individuals, including seniors, children, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities. Even those with specific illnesses such as AIDS, HIV, or tuberculosis can apply for this program.

 

Community health clinics with Medi-Cal programs

California residents can go to community health clinics or Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) clinics to access affordable healthcare. These health clinics welcome everyone, especially those who are uninsured, underinsured, immigrants, and homeless. Patient driven and community based, each FQHC clinic is intended to remove common hurdles to healthcare in rural and urban areas where primary care is needed but limited.

One trustworthy FQHC clinic that’s been serving Orange County for years is Hurtt Family Health Clinic. It has medical mobile units and three fixed clinics located in the high-need areas of Tustin, Santa Ana, and Anaheim, CA. By mission and design, the services of Hurtt Family Health Clinic are tailored to fit the needs of their communities.

The clinic has Medi-Cal doctors in Orange County and multiple full-service medical, dental, chiropractic, mental health, vision, and health education facilities. It also partners with community resources in Orange County to continually update and improve the quality of the health care it provides, while keeping each service cost efficient.

 

Who is qualified for Medi-Cal programs?

While everyone is welcome to FQHC clinics, not everyone is qualified to apply for and receive the benefits of Medi-Cal programs. There are more than 90 eligibility categories to the program, each with its own rules and requirements. Here are some of the most common eligibility categories of the Medi-Cal program

  • Families with incomes at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible for Income-Based Medi-Cal
  • Families enrolled in free school lunches can be automatically considered for Medi-Cal
  • Individuals who qualify for Supplemental Security Income or SSI will automatically get SSI-Linked Medi-Cal
  • Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal
  • California’s Working Disabled Program
  • Aged, Blind, and Disabled – Medically Needy Medi-Cal

 

How to apply for Medi-Cal programs?

You can apply for Medi-Cal programs in person at your nearest local county office. You will need to provide the following documentation:

  • State-issued ID with your photo
  • Resident alien card, if applicable
  • Proof of residency like a lease agreement
  • Latest 1040 IRS tax document
  • Proof of your current income

 

Other options include applying online via CoveredCA.com, or by calling Covered California’s office at (800) 300-1506.

Processing of application and eligibility can take 45 to 90 days, and is determined through the county offices of Medi-Cal.

Hurtt Family Health Clinic & Medicaid (Medi-Cal)/Medicare

Posted on by Hurtt Family Health Clinic

Our partnerships with Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and Medicare are aimed to support underserved families and individuals in Orange County who need access to quality healthcare.

As a low cost medical clinic, we offer a full scope of primary, preventative, and specialized health care in Orange County. We have fixed medical locations in Santa Ana, Anaheim, and Tustin that welcome both insured and uninsured patients.

Below are some of the services we offer:

  • Well-baby and well-child checkups
  • Well-woman exams and clinical breast exams
  • Physical examinations
  • Management and treatment of diabetes and chronic illness
  • Provision of medication when applicable
  • Low cost referrals for specialized needs
  • Patient education classes including chronic illness management, personal hygiene, and nutrition

 

What’s the difference between Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and Medicare?

Both Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Cal) are government-sponsored medical insurance programs that are designed to cover healthcare costs. In 1965, these programs were created to aid individuals who need medical help but cannot afford private medical insurance.  However, Medicaid (Medi-Cal) and Medicare are not the same. Read on to learn more about each insurance program.

Medicare

Medicare provides health coverage for patients who are 65 and above. It is a federal program that is designed to help even those who have severe disability, regardless of their income.

How to qualify for Medicare

  • You are 65 years old or above and are a US citizen or a permanent legal resident who has lived in the United States for at least 5 years
  • You or your spouse has worked for a sufficient amount of time to be eligible for railroad retirement or Social Security benefits
  • You or your spouse is a government retiree or employee who has paid Medicare payroll taxes while working

You can still qualify for Medicare even if you are under 65 years old but with End-Stage Renal Disease or ESRD. ERSD is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, wherein a person’s kidneys no longer function properly to sustain the needs of daily life.

A person may be eligible for Medicare if she or he has ERSD, and meets any of the following qualifications:

  • You are under 65 years old and receiving Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI
  • You are eligible or is already receiving railroad retirement benefits
  • You are getting dialysis treatments
  • You have had a kidney transplant
  • You, your spouse, or your parent paid Medicare taxes for a sufficient amount of time that meet the specifications of the Social Security Administration

To learn more about Medicare, please visit: https://www.medicare.gov/

Medicaid (Medi-Cal)

Medicaid is both a state and federal program that is designed to offer health coverage assistance to those who have a very low income. A person may qualify for receiving free or low-cost health care through Medicaid, depending on your income and family size. Check this chart to see if your income is in the range to qualify for Medicaid assistance

Medi-Cal is specific to California residents and offers free or low-cost health coverage to individuals with limited income. To learn more about Medi-Cal specific to Orange County and our partnership with CalOptima, please visit: https://www.caloptima.org/en/Members/Medi-Cal.aspx

Hurtt Family Health Clinic welcomes insured, uninsured, and underinsured patients by appointment and on a walk-in basis. To learn more about our clinic’s health programs and services, browse our website or call at (714)247-0300. You can also email info@hurttclinic.org.

Hurtt Family Health Clinic’s Sliding Fee Scale Program

Posted on by Hurtt Family Health Clinic

Hurtt Family Health Clinic offers Sliding Fee Scale Program to those who wish to reduce or “slide” the cost of their healthcare. This program allows us to offer a wide range of healthcare solutions to all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, source of income, and insurance status. We have a streamlined procedure to ensure our patients are properly guided as they apply for the program and submit supporting documentation. Below is an infographic showing how efficient it is to apply for a Sliding Fee Scale Program at Hurtt Family Health Clinic.

 

What is a Sliding Fee Scale Discount Program?

Posted on by Hurtt Family Health Clinic

Hurtt Family Health Clinic welcomes all patients, regardless of their ability to pay, source of income, and insurance status. As an FQHC clinic, we are able to offer a wide selection of healthcare solutions through the Sliding Fee Scale Discount program.

Understanding sliding fee scale discount program

The sliding fee program allows Hurtt Family Health Clinic to help you care for you and your family’s health by reducing or “sliding” the cost of your healthcare. Our low cost medical clinics determine the discount based upon your family size and household income. The discounts to be eligible are updated annually according to the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).

How to apply for the sliding fee scale discount program

Hurtt Family Health Clinic has streamlined procedures to help patients to conveniently apply for sliding fee discounts. The following are procedures for updating and applying Sliding Fee Discounts, in accordance with our sliding fee discount for all medical services policy:

  • Sliding Fee Application – to apply for sliding fee discount program (SFSD), you need to complete the sliding fee application form wherein you will indicate your income and household size. Aside from the application form, you also need to submit government issued identification card of the head of the household, proof of address, and proof of income.
  • Patients with Third Party Coverage – patients with insurance coverage are still eligible for the sliding fee discount.
  • Declining SFSD Eligibility Screening – patients who decline the SFSD eligibility assessment may still be reconsidered for the program any time once they agree to be screened for the program and submit the necessary documents.
  • Assigning and Updating Sliding Fee Status – all patients are required to update their income statement documentation every year.
  • Financial Assistance Options – our sliding fee program is designed to make healthcare more accessible, especially to underserved and uninsured patients in Orange County. We offer the following financial assistance options so cost will no longer hinder our patients from getting the healthcare they deserve.
  • Patient Special Needs Request (PSNR) Form – patients can submit a PSNR form if they are unable to pay the fee associated with their sliding fee schedule because of a temporary financial problem.
  • Payment Plan Form – this plan is used to help those who are unable to make full payment for their healthcare costs. Patients must submit a form explaining their financial situation and payment plan details.
  • Self-Declaration Form – this assistance program form is submitted by patients who want to be screened for eligibility for the Sliding Fee Discount.

The Sliding Fee Scale Discount program is a part of Hurtt Family Health Clinic’s effort in ensuring that patients in Orange County get the healthcare that they deserve regardless of their ability to pay. We offer this program in any of our fixed locations in Tustin, Santa Ana, and Anaheim.

To learn more about our discount programs, call us at (714)247-0300. You can also email info@hurttclinic.org.