Reginald Dupree is one of thousands of Howard County residents waiting to have health insurance.
His wait is finally over.
Dupree became one of the first to enroll in the county’s new innovative health care access plan, the first of its kind in the country, to bring health care coverage for about 2,200 uninsured residents.
“I need affordable health care and that was the most important thing,” said Dupree, 39, of Columbia, a truck driver. “You can’t afford to not go to the doctor and just sit home sick. It’s too risky.”
County Executive Ken Ulman and Health Officer Dr. Peter Beilenson, officially opened enrollment at the East Columbia branch of the Howard County Library on Wednesday, where residents can enroll using a Web-based program.
“It’s based on the philosophy that health care is a right but also a responsibility,” Beilenson said.
All enrolled members will have a personal health coach, who will work with the patient and physician, to develop a health action plan based on their needs, said Elizabeth Edsall Kromm, director of the Division of Outreach and Support Services with the Howard County Health Department.
“We all want to eat better and work out more,” she said. “But what makes this hard is not having a plan to figure out the barriers to healthy living.”
The health coach could have expertise in such areas as physical fitness, nutrition, social work or nursing, she said.
The plan is also unique in its ability to reach the working-class population; those in poverty already qualify for Medicaid, Beilenson explained.
“I have to give County Executive Ulman credit,” said Rep John Sarbanes, D-District 3.
“With Howard, you have a jurisdiction that is pretty well off, but nevertheless, there’s a segment of the population without health care and he wants to help them get coverage.”
It’s estimated there are around 20,000 uninsured county residents, 800,000 in Maryland and 46 million in the country, officials said.
The plan, projected to cost $2.8 million in its first fiscal year, is being funded, through the participation fees, donations, county and health department funding and $1 million in anticipated grant funding.
Eligibility requirements for the plan include being a county resident and at least 19 years old but less than 64.
Residents have to have been without health insurance for a minimum of six months before applying, health department officials said.
There are also household income limitations. A family of four, for instance, must have a maximum income of $63,600, with some exceptions provided.
Enrollment will continue over the next few months. Clinical and coaching services begin Jan. 1, 2009.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Costs associated with the Healthy Howard Access Plan:
• $50 to $85 a month for one person for those earning up to three times the federal poverty level;
• Up to $115 a month for a couple;
• $0 for up to six primary care physician visits for men and seven visits for women;
• $50 for up to three urgent care visits;
• $100 for a non-crisis emergency room visit, but waived, if admitted.
Source: Howard County Health Department
