Access to Care
Access to Care® is a model primary health care program serving low-income uninsured individuals in suburban Cook County, Illinois and in northwest Chicago (west of Pulaski Road AND north of North Avenue).
The Access to Care program is a unique public/private partnership making primary health care and the ancillary pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services available to those individuals caught in the gap between eligibility for public health insurance programs (All Kids, FamilyCare, Medicaid, Medicare) and having private insurance. The program provides affordable diagnosis and treatment to individuals and families for a small co-payment per visit, procedure or prescription medication.
Eligibility screening is determined by the following criteria: family incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, with no health insurance (or a deductible of $500 or more per person); ineligible for All Kids (or have income necessary to pay premiums), FamilyCare, Medicaid, or Medicare and residence in suburban Cook County or northwest Chicago.
Access to Care Waiting List
Due to the loss of Illinois State Funding, Access to Care has been forced to serve fewer people. Currently all new applicants are being placed on a waiting list. Access to Care does not know how long the wait time will be. Currenlty all applications received after April 1, 2009 are waiting. There are over 4,000 people waiting for services. Please contact your elected officials (County and State) and ask them to re-instate funding for Access to Care.
Access to Care saved my life
This is an account of how Access to Care impacted one person.
pioneer press
There are an estimated 760,000 people in Cook County living every day without the benefit of health insurance. Access to Care® can help provide affordable primary health care services for low-income, uninsured individuals living in suburban Cook County or northwest Chicago.
Access to Care provides its patients: Doctor’s visits for $5, Lab and X-ray for $5 per specimen or x-ray, prescription medication for $10 (generic), $20 (preferred brand) and $30 (non-preferred brand). You will be assigned to a local participating physician based upon availability. There is a $20 per person annual enrollment fee.
Access to Care has approximately 700 participating physicians throughout Cook County. Lab and x-ray services are also available locally. Radiology is available at several local hospitals. Lab tests can be obtained at local drawing facilities or through courier services that pick up the lab specimen from your doctor’s office. All tests and prescriptions must be written by your Access to Care physician.
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As a physician you recognize the importance of primary health care for good health and well-being. You are well aware there are many people without health insurance who cannot afford even basic health services.
The Suburban Primary Health Care Council’s Access to Care® program is a unique primary health care program that delivers primary medical services for low income, uninsured individuals, who are ineligible for public programs, such as AllKids, Family Care, Medicaid or Medicare and do not have benefits from their employer and cannot afford to purchase insurance.
Access to Care provides a way for physicians to express a charitable impulse in an organized manner and to receive a nominal reimbursement to help cover costs. In additions, the program separately covers the costs of laboratory, radiology and pharmacy services. Patients make a small co-payment to the providers for each service.
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Access to Care thanks those people who have selflessly donated their time to ensure that the program continues to provide services for medically indigent individuals. The program always needs volunteers to serve on the Benefit Committee, the Marketing Committee, and the Development Committee.
Volunteers are also needed to staff the Access to Care booth at various health fairs and to distribute flyers in their neighborhood.
One of the most important ways to volunteer for Access to Care is to lend your voice as a spokesperson for the program. Tell your friends, neighbors and business contacts about the benefits of the Access to Care program.
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