Northfield Township has granted $8,350 to Access to Care. Access to Care is a charitable program that provides a delivery system for primary health care to the medically indigent of suburban Cook County. This vital health program is designed for low income, uninsured residents of suburban Cook County. The program partners with local doctors to provide primary care services to patients in their local neighborhoods. Access to Care is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008 and has served over 90,000 people.
“We thank Northfield Township for understanding the importance of affordable primary health care for its residents,” said President Victoria Bigelow. This grant will be used specifically to provide affordable primary health care services to people living in Northfield Township. Access to Care served 54 residents of Northfield Township in 2007.
In order to be eligible for Access to Care, an individual must provide proof of address and proof of income. Eligibility guidelines are 1) live in suburban Cook County and 2) family income below 200% of the federal poverty level (an example is $42,400 or less for a family of four). The individual must have no health insurance (or a per person deductible of $500 or more) and be ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare.
Access to Care provides the opportunity for low-income suburbanites to see a local primary care doctor in their private office for a $5 co-payment at the time of service. Other services include: prescription medication for $10 (generic), $20 (preferred-brand name), or $30 (non-preferred brand name) and basic lab and x-ray services for $5. Patients develop a relationship with their Access to Care doctor and report increased peace of mind.
Enrollments are accepted at many local offices. An individual or family may register at many south suburban Township Offices as well as CEDA and Cook County Department of Public Health offices in the south suburban Cook County area. To determine eligibility and an office located near you call 708-531-0680.
This program serves the people of suburban Cook County who fall in the ever widening gap between eligibility for public insurance programs and those individuals who are privately insured. Many part-time employees, students, unemployed, low wage earners and individuals not offered health insurance by their employer are eligible for Access to Care.
Funded by both public and private sources, the program receives its primary source of funding from the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the State of Illinois. Townships and municipalities as well as private foundations, corporations, service organizations and individual donors also fund access to Care. The Access to Care physicians annually donate services worth an estimated $2.5 million.

For more information about The Access to Care Program
call 708-531-0680.

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