Families USA (202) 628-3030 has several publications that are worth looking at & buying.

Health Care Choices in the Boston Area. ©1995 Published by Families USA Foundation
This book is a guide to local health care. It includes extensive listings of: local health care providers, Massachusetts laws and regulations that guarantee you access to high quality, affordable medical services, and many other resources for securing your rights to health care. It lists Insurance companies/plans, elder care options, dental care, occupational health care options, Patient' rights etc.

Health Care Choices for Today's Consumer Published by Families USA Foundation
This a 352 page step by step national source book that show you what to look for- and what to look out for -- anywhere in the U.S!

Free Care: Most hospitals and community health centers in Massachusetts do have "free care" for those who qualify, but be careful!! Ask what the "free care covers"! It may only cover the hospital's part of the bill and it may not cover the doctor's fees, lab fees, or specialist's fees.

Need based: based on your income level

Gross Income: amount you earn before taxes

HMO: stands for health care maintenance organizations. You can only use their network of health care providers. If one is traveling out of their care network you should check on their policies for seeking care out side of their network.

POS: stands for Points of Service Plan. With these plans you can go to any health care provider that accepts this insurance (i.e. you have more consumer choice, but they are usually more expensive). These plans might be best if you are traveling on a regular basis.

COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act):
If you are out of a job (i.e. you left or where fire/laid off), this plan has accident protection and regular checkups- By law one qualifies for this plan- one must notify their ex-employer with 60 days of leaving and one can stay on their former employers plan for up to 18 months. One can terminated it at any time. However, you have to pay all the premium for plan (i.e. you pay the entire cost of the insurance)

Boston Area
Boston Medical Center (BMC)
(800) 792-4355
BMC collaborates with over 10 Boston area community health centers and has several plans for the uninsured that are income/ need based: i.e. Boston Health Net & BMC Health Net. Call to find which health center is closest to you and to find out what plans you may qualify for. One needs to be a Massachusetts resident to qualify for the program.

Network Health
(888)738-7720 (toll free)
It is collaboration between Cambridge Hospital & Somerville Hospital and they have several plans for the uninsured that are income/need based. One needs to be a Massachusetts resident to qualify for the program.

South Boston Community Health Center (SBCHC)
(617) 269-7500
This is one of the Community Health Centers that collaborates with BMC. The AF is also collaborating with SBCHC please see our section on this! They are very artists friendly!!!!!!

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
(617) 227- 4500
Info on plans for a small businesses (can be a one person firm)

Massachusetts
Health Care For All
(617) 350-7279
This health care is an advocacy group especially for those who are not insured. They also have an incredible WEB site as well as legal help for the uninsured etc. (We are linked to them -see the link page).

MassHealth
1-800-841-2900
Is the State's health care "HMO" program for the uninsured with a full range of benefits. They have several plans that are all income/need based. The plans pay for doctor's visit, prescription drugs, dental services, counseling, hospital services and other health care services. One needs to be a Massachusetts resident to be eligible for the program. (They have a web site and we are linked to them).

The Children's Medical Security Plan (CMSP)
1-800-909-2677
Children and families not eligible for MassHealth can get more limited coverage for primary and preventive care through this plan. CMSP does not pay for hospital services. Some families may have to pay a small monthly fee, depending on their income.

StageSource is a Boston-based member organization for those in working in theater industry. They offer a group health plan for freelance and self employed theatre artists. 617-720-6066.

National
Families USA Foundation
(202) 628-3030
Families USA is a national consumer health care advocacy organization that has some great publications. They also maintain three web sites: The Families USA home page, The Medicaid Clearinghouse and Manage Care Central. At these site you will find the latest information on managed care, the preservation of Medicaid protections, children's health expansion and other health reforms concerns. From their web sites you can also onto their ListServs and receive updates electronically. (See our links page to visit their sites).

International Sculpture Center
(609) 689-1051
This is a membership based organization that offers health insurance to their members (you don't have to be a sculptor to join). We are linked to their web site.

Actors' Equity
(212) 869-8530
This is a membership based organization that offers health insurance to their members.

National Writer's Union (national)/ Boston Chapter (617-661-1476)
This is a membership based organization that offers health insurance to their members.

National Association for the Self Employed
1-800-232 6273
(for New England call 800 455-6273)
An organization that offers health insurance to the self employed

COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)
If you are out of a job (i.e. you left or where fire/laid off), this plan has accident protection and regular checkups- By law one qualifies for this plan- one must notify their ex-employer with in 60 days of leaving and one can stay on their former employers plan for up to 18 months. One can terminated it at any time. However, you have to pay all the premium for plan (i.e. you pay the entire cost of the insurance)

Some major national insurance carries that are POP's:
Oxford 1-800- 449-8880
Aenta 1-860-273-0123
Blue Cross and Blue Shield

We recommend that if your carrier isn't one of the above you might want to check its accreditation at www.ncqa.org

Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, there are options for low income uninsured/ underinsured individuals and their families. Even if you are single, you can qualify for these plans, providing that you meet the guidelines. Call MassHealth and/or check with your local health provider to see if you qualify for any of the MassHealth Plans or if your health care provider has sliding fees based on your income/ability to pay. Some places may even have a payment plan/schedule, if you can't pay the entire bill at once.

Boston
Boston has many options for the uninsured. Most hospitals and community health centers do have free care (again ask what it covers!!).

Boston Medical Center (BMC) and its affiliated Health Centers, however, seem to have the best plans, especially if your income tends to fluctuate between 133% and 200% of the Federal poverty line. You don't have to be a Boston resident to enroll in these plans- You must be a Massachusetts resident!

Also South Boston Community Health Center is the AF's favorite in the BMC network. They have made it easier for artists and crafts people who do not have regular pay stubs to verify their income. See our collaboration with them (see our section on our collaboration with them)!

The main number to call on any of the two plans is 1-800-792-4355.

BMC and its affiliated health centers offer the following plans:

Boston HealthNet Plan is a plan for people who don't have insurance. It is modeled after the free Care Program and is governed by the same rules. Individuals and families whose gross income does not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty line are eligible. One must meet some other simple guidelines (i.e. one can't be a full time college student, one can't already have insurance, etc.)

There are no co-payments or deductibles for this plan. There are unlimited primary care visits for patients in adult medicine, family medicine, pediatrics and adolescent medicine. specialty care, urgent care and emergency visits are free as well as inpatient admissions. Most prescription medications are covered up to $100 per medication per month, filled at the BMC Pharmacy.

Boston HealthNet member can be seen at BMC or one their affiliated heath centers. Boston HealthNet is renewed every 6 months.

Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan (aka BMC HealthNet Plan) is a capitulated Medicaid health plan that was launched in July 1997. Under this Plan, all physician services, inpatient admissions, outpatient visits, prescriptions and over the counter medicines are covered for individuals and families who qualify for MassHealth (Medicaid) benefits (In most cases one's income cannot exceed 133% of the federal poverty line, but if you are pregnant or have children under the age of one, family income can be as much as 185% of the federal poverty line).

To enroll in the BMC HealthNet Plan, potential members must first be determined eligible and then enroll in the plan through a process designed by the State. BMC outreach workers have been assigned throughout BMC's campus and at their affiliated Community Health Care Centers to assist in this process. (You can also call MassHealth directly but it is easier to have some help you with the forms!)

If a person is denied MassHealth or loses their eligibility, BMC reactivates or enrolls them in the Boston HealthNet plan, so that the person can continue to see their provider.

All specialty visits under the BMC HealthNet Plan require prior approval, which can be obtained by calling 1-888-566-0008.

Boston Community Health Centers are a great way to get health care- Many are affiliated with Boston Medical Center and the Boston HealthNet Plan.

Somerville/Cambridge:
Network Health/Cambridge Health Alliance is collaboration between Cambridge Hospital & Somerville Hospital and they have several plans for the uninsured that are income/need based. One needs to be a Massachusetts resident to qualify for the program. (888)738-7720 (toll free)

Women's Health Network for low income & uninsured women 1-877-414-4447

Small non profits and small businesses often can not afford to provide health insurance for their workers, and often times many of their workers are part time. Obviously one thing that they can do is give the health care information on this web site to their employees! Remember a small business can be one or more people.

One should also check with their local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have plans or info on health care options for small businesses. Boston (617) 227-4500.

A great national organization Resource Management Inc. 1-800-508-0048

They specialize in offering small business/companies comprised of one or more people affordable health insurance by "employee leasing"! If you're an artist run small business or a small non profit give them a call.

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