1 p.m. TODAY: Health Coverage Social Media Chat
You won’t want to miss the Health System’s social media chat, Health Coverage Uncovered, today from 1 to 3 p.m. on Facebook and Twitter! See event information here.
Category Archives: Health Coverage
December 12 – Social Media Chat: Health Coverage Uncovered
Health insurance keeps you healthy and financially covered when you need it most. Wondering what health coverage plan is best for you?
Join the Health Coverage: Uncovered social media chat with San Mateo County enrollment counselors Tuesday, December 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. Log on to Facebook (facebook.com/SMCHealth) and Twitter (twitter.com/smchealth) and ask any health insurance questions. Follow the conversation at @SMCHealth and #GetCoveredSMC for all the updates. Help will be available in English and Spanish. Read more
CHI’s First Health Care Rights And Immigration Forum For The Chinese Community
Chinese Health Initiative (CHI) hosted its first Health Care Rights and Immigration Forum for the Chinese Community at Millbrae Library on Saturday, October 14th, 2017. There was a huge turnout, with more than 80 individuals attending in-person, along with over 250+ views from our Facebook live recording of the presentation. Of the attendees, we had 27 representatives, from 13 local community agencies, tabling at the Resource Fair. CHI was also recognized by Board of Supervisor David Canepa and by Chief of Staff from Supervisor Dave Pine’s office for our work in hosting the forum for the Chinese Community.
Reminder: Upcoming Immigration and Health Care Events
If you’re interested in potential changes in immigration laws, health care rights for immigrants or the experience of immigrant youth in San Mateo County, then you won’t want to miss out on these informative events taking place over the next two weeks:
Learn about potential changes in immigration laws, health care rights and what it all means for you.
Saturday, October 14 – Health Care Rights and Immigration Forum for the Chinese Community
Sunday October 22 – Immigrant Health Forum
Wednesday, October 18 – San Mateo County Immigrant Integration Summit 2017
Be sure to pass along the information to family and friends who may be interested.
Upcoming Immigration and Healthcare Events
If you’d like to learn more about potential changes in immigration laws, healthcare rights and what it all means for you, then you may want to attend one of these upcoming events. For more information, see the links below.
Health Care Rights and Immigration Forum for the Chinese Community – Saturday, October 14
Immigrant Health Forum – Sunday October 22
The second annual Immigrant Integration Summit will highlight the experiences of immigrant youth in San Mateo County.
San Mateo County Immigrant Integration Summit 2017 – Wednesday, October 18
HSPM offers new Medi-Cal transportation benefit
As of July 1, 2017, Health Plan of San Mateo (HSPM) now offers a transportation benefit to all Medi-Cal members allowing them to schedule rides to outpatient health-related services, like doctor’s visits, lab services, PT/OT and behavioral health appointments.
HSPM contracts with the American Logistics Company (ALC) to provide transportation. To schedule a ride, members must call ALC two days in advance. ALC arranges curb to curb rides through their strategic partnership with Lyft for members who have access to a mobile phone that can receive messages from a Lyft driver. For those who require door to door service (assistance getting in/out of vehicle or into the building), ALC can arrange a ride through one of their other contracted transportation providers.
Rides are provided for health related services only. The areas covered by this benefit are San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Requests for rides to health-related services outside of these counties must by authorized by HPSM.
CareAdvantage members have had a transportation benefit through HSPM since 2008. CareAdvantage members who have reached their 30 one way ride limit, can request additional rides through ALC, to be covered through their Medi-Cal benefit.
The Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) benefit is still offered to members that need non-emergency ambulance, litter van, wheelchair van and/or air transport. NEMT must be prescribed by a health care provider and approved by HPSM Health Services.
To schedule a ride through ALC, Medi-Cal members should call 1-844-856-4389, and CareAdvantage members should call 1-877-356-1080.
Join the Social Media Chat Tomorrow Dec. 7: Health Coverage Uncovered
Wondering what health coverage plan is best for you? Get answers to all of your health insurance questions before the Dec. 15 deadline to sign up or make changes to your Covered CA health plan so you’re covered January 1!
Join the Health Coverage: Uncovered social media chat with San Mateo County enrollment counselors Wednesday, December 7, from 1-3 pm. Log on to Facebook (facebook.com/SMCHealth) and Twitter (twitter.com/smchealth) and ask any health insurance questions. Follow the conversation at @SMCHealth and #GetCoveredSMC for all the updates. Help will be available in English and Spanish.
Remember, there is no wrong door—you can apply in person, online, or on the phone at (650) 616-2002. We are here to help with free, confidential, in-person assistance.
Health insurance keeps you healthy and financially covered when you need it most. You may qualify for financial help! Rest assured all information shared in health insurance applications is confidential (including your family’s immigration status).
Visit smcgov.org/HealthCoverage for more information about enrolling in health coverage in San Mateo County. View image in Spanish.
Enrollment for Affordable Health Insurance Starts Today!
Open enrollment to sign up for affordable health insurance begins Tuesday, November 1! Insurance keeps you healthy and financially covered when you need it most. You may qualify for financial help.
Sign up November 1 to December 15, 2016 to avoid any gaps in coverage or a tax penalty and have health coverage starting on January 1, 2017. The deadline to renew or enroll in Covered California health insurance is January 31, 2017.
Enrollment counselors are available to help you. Call (650) 616-2002 for free, confidential, in-person health insurance help. You can also make an appointment to talk to a local specialist here: www.smchealth.org/pod/when-can-we-help-you-sign-health-coverage.
A list of enrollment locations and times as well as the languages spoken at each center across San Mateo County is available at www.smcgov.org/healthcoverage.
Diversity and Equity Council Celebrates National Recovery Month
To acknowledge the recovery movement and to spread the word about September Recovery Month, the Diversity and Equity Council (DEC) dedicated their August meeting to the topic of recovery in San Mateo County.
The conversation included a presentation on how recovery could be better integrated with care at every level. The DEC also hosted Eduardo Tirado who is a member of Voices of Recovery in San Mateo County. Eduardo shared his own experience with recovery and reflected on his youth and substance abuse and its consequences. Eduardo said about his youth, sharing “…at one point I had people telling me that I would not live past 21 and that I had no future. I started to get deeper and deeper into my drug addiction and I realized my life was unmanageable and I had no hope.”
Eduardo participated in the Our Common Ground program in East Palo Alto and believes that the experience changed his life. “After a while I accumulated a few months clean and sober and I volunteered at Voices of Recovery San Mateo County and got hired shortly after that. Today I work at Our Common Ground as well and became a Certified Advanced Level (WRAP) Wellness Recovery Action Plan facilitator.”
If you are passionate about serving under-served populations, we want to hear from you at the DEC’s monthly meetings.
The Diversity and Equity Council is a guiding body that works to integrate diversity, eliminate health disparities and advance equity in San Mateo County. The DEC coordinates, informs, supports, advocates and consults with Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and its communities. The goal of the group is to address health disparities and barriers to access in our communities.
For more information contact Narges Dillon at narges.dillon@star-vista.org or Kathy Reyes at ekreyes@smcgov.org.
Achieving True Parity in Mental Health and Substance Use Care
NAMI’s recently released report “A Long Road Ahead – Achieving True Parity in Mental Health and Substance Use Care,” describes a survey conducted by NAMI to assess the experiences of people living with mental illness and their families with private health insurance. Their findings reveal that while progress is being made in law, we have a long way to go to achieve true parity in mental health and substance use care. See the report at : www.nami.org/parityreport
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