Thank you for Your Support
In January 2007, Access to Care clients were asked to contact their Cook County Commissioner to request that funding be restored to the program. Many of you wrote and/or called your Commissioner. Many of you called the Access to Care office to inquire what else could be done to help with funding. Thanks to all of your efforts, the Cook County Board of Commissioners funded the Access to Care program for 2007.

The Council also thanks those clients who told their stories to various media sources. All of these actions were a tremendous help in not only with funding, but also in extending knowledge of the program. Access to Care regrets the funding cuts in the Cook County health system, but is grateful to the Cook County Board for its funding support for 2007. Be assured that the Council is being pro-active in seeking to diversify its funding sources, while maintaining public funding.

Again, thank you all your calls and letters.

The Illinois All Kids Program and Access to Care
Effective immediately, Access to Care will not charge an enrollment fee for children 18 and under who may be eligible for Access to Care. Most children currently enrolled in the program are eligible for All Kids, the State of Illinois insurance program for children, and are no longer eligible for Access to Care. These children will not be allowed to re-enroll in Access to Care.

All Kids is a complete insurance package for Illinois' children. There are different categories within the All Kids program. Minor children whose family has an income that would require payment of a monthly premium will still be eligible for Access to Care. Adult children, ages 19 to 21, applying to Access to Care with their family will still be charged an enrollment fee. A $50 enrollment fee will apply only to families defined as husband, wife and children 19 to 21 only.

Parents with children enrolled in All Kids may also be eligible for Family Care, the State of Illinois' health insurance program for low income families. However, Access to Care will cover parents that are not eligible for FamilyCare. If there are any questions about the enrollment fee at the time of re-registration, call 708-531-0680.

Be a voice for Access to Care
Access to Care is frequently contacted by various media sources. The issue of medically uninsured individuals will continue to be a major issue in the State of Illinois and the nation. Members of the media often want to speak to program clients. Access to Care needs to have people who would be willing to tell their story. BY TELLING YOUR STORY, YOU ARE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY BENEFIT FROM ACCESS TO CARE by creating an awareness of the problems encountered when a person does not have health insurance. Access to Care is one program that provides affordable health care services to those without health insurance.

The program would like to be a ready source for the media and we can't do this without you. Please help, this is VERY IMPORTANT. If you would be willing to speak to the media on behalf of Access to Care, please contact Kate Barnickel, at the administrative office, 708-531-0680. Access to Care will never release information about any client without that person's approval.

An Easy Way to Help Access to Care
As evidenced by the many registration forms received from clients that were printed from the Access to Care web site, many people either have a home computer or have access to one. By using your computer you can help Access to Care provide more people with affordable primary health care services. Access to Care is a recipient charity listed with iGive.com. A very easy way to donate to Access to Care is to simply use your computer to shop. IGive.com has over 600 merchants that will donate a portion of your purchase price to Access to Care. THE MERCHANTS DONATE, just because you purchased an item from their on-line products.

A wide variety of services and merchandise is available through iGive.com. Merchants include LTD.com florists, Office Depot, SmartBargains and J.C. Penney. This applies only to on-line purchases. Visit www.iGive.com/atc to register. Thereafter, visit iGive.com to determine what provider has the item or service you want. To place an order visit the merchant's web site. Your purchases will provide funds for others to receive needed primary health care services through Access to Care.

Thank you for shopping through iGive.com. and supporting Access to Care.