Hawaii families who are losing health insurance because of layoffs or reduced work hours are advised by the Hawaii Uninsured Project to look at these options: Hawaii families have options
for lost health plansStar-Bulletin staff
>> Check with either your human resource department or health plan to discuss alternatives. Individuals in some cases may be eligible under a spouse's plan.
>> The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act is a federal law that gives some employees and their dependents an opportunity to continue health insurance if it ends for certain reasons. In companies with fewer than 20 employees, terminated workers and others who lose benefits due to reduced work hours may be eligible to purchase group health insurance for up to 18 months.
Your health plan administrator will notify you if you are eligible for COBRA. You have 60 days to accept health insurance or lose all rights to the benefit. Medical benefits will be the same as those offered by the employer, but you may have to pay the entire amount of the premium, plus 2 percent for administrative costs.
>> You have 45 days from the time you lose your benefits to apply for QUEST, the state's health care program. To be eligible, you must be a Hawaii resident, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, have a Social Security number, be under age 65 and fall within income and asset limits. For more information, call your local Med-QUEST Eligibility Office.
>> QUEST and Medicaid Fee-for-Service government programs offer free health insurance for uninsured children under 19 years old who meet family income levels and are Hawaii residents and either U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, refugees or citizens of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia or Palau. For more information and an application, call the Kids Health Insurance hot line at Ask Aloha United Way, 275-2000 on Oahu and 877-275-6569 from the neighbor islands, or visit www.coveringkids.com.
>> The HMSA Children's Plan is an individual plan providing health insurance to children from 31 days through 18 years old who are uninsured residents. It provides basic health care benefits for children, such as preventive services, immunizations and doctor visits, for a monthly fee of $58.50. Call 948-6422 on Oahu for information, or 800-618-4672 on the neighbor islands.
>> If none of those options is possible, 10 primary care clinics in Hawaii offer various health and social services at a reasonable cost. Licensed doctors and nurses are available to treat most basic health problems. For a listing of clinics, call Ask Aloha United Way -- 275-2000 on Oahu and 877-275-6569 from the neighbor islands.
In an emergency, go to a hospital emergency room.
For more information about the project, log on to http://www.hmsafoundation.org/uninsured.
