Problems Getting Health Insurance? NYC MCCAP Can Help

A New York City hospital threatened to discharge a Medicaid patient because his health insurance provider was not paying for his services.  An advocate from the New York City Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program (NYC MCCAP) first contacted the hospital and requested that the patient not be released until the matter could be cleared up.  She then called the health insurance provider and found that the problem was a hospital billing error.  She informed the hospital, the error was corrected, and the services were paid for.  The client was able to stay in the hospital and received the medical services he desperately needed.

An uninsured recent immigrant who spoke no English was taken to the hospital for emergency medical care.  Because he didn't have any insurance, the hospital sent his bill straight to a collection agency without providing him with any information about charity care – financial assistance for the uninsured.  With help from a MCCAP agency, the hospital reduced bill from $7,000 to $500.  But the collection agency still didn't close the case because the hospital’s decision had not been forwarded. The MCCAP advocate was able to contact the collection agency and get the matter resolved.

One of the most worrisome challenges facing many New Yorkers is how to get high quality health care for themselves and their families when the managed care system is confusing and health care costs are soaring.  The keys are knowing which health plan best suits the needs of you and your family and how that plan works.  The place to go for help is NYC MCCAP and its network agencies.

NYC MCCAP is an innovative resource that helps New Yorkers navigate the complex managed health care maze.  It provides critical health assistance to the most vulnerable and underserved populations of New York City through community education workshops and individual counseling sessions.  To date, NYC MCCAP has helped over 120,000 New Yorkers on a variety of issues, including helping the elderly choose a Medicare plan, assisting the disabled get the care they need, and helping those who are wrongly denied a service or dropped from a plan for no apparent reason.

The Community Service Society (CSS) implemented NYC MCCAP after persuading the City Council to establish the program in 1998.  CSS coordinates the program for the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and provides training to NYC MCCAP agencies.  CSS also holds managed care workshops geared to social service professionals.  This spring, free workshops include information on Medicaid, Medicare Part D (prescription drugs), and the rights of the consumer in the managed care system.  All workshops are held at CSS offices at 105 East 22nd Street.  To attend a NYC MCCAP workshop, call Lisa Moore at 212-614-5346.

Expanding access
to health care

NYC MCCAP has demonstrated its effectiveness in expanding access to health insurance and needed medical services for the city’s most difficult to reach populations.  Over 70 percent of its clients speak a language other than English at home; over 60 percent are born outside of the United States.  NYC MCCAP is a crucial resource for Black and Latino New Yorkers; 75 percent of its clients are people of color or ethnic minorities.

NYC MCCAP assists consumers in obtaining health insurance and educates New Yorkers about how to use their health care plans to get the care they need.  It also informs consumers of their rights in managed care and provides help in resolving problems with their health plans.  NYC MCCAP helps people with all types of public and private health insurance – Medicaid, Family Health Plus, Child Health Plus, Medicare, and private health insurance.

A Community Based Network

NYC MCCAP services are provided through a network of 26 community-based organizations located throughout the five boroughs.  People at these agencies have been trained to conduct quality community education workshops and to provide individualized counseling for New Yorkers who face barriers to accessing health care services.  These are organizations that are well-known and trusted in their neighborhoods.  The diversity of the NYC MCCAP network allows it to provide services in 12 languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole, Chinese, Russian, and Yiddish.

By helping New Yorkers use their managed care plans effectively, NYC MCCAP helps more people improve their health status.  This is not just a benefit for these families.  It is good for all New Yorkers.  Access to quality care is a public health issue that concerns all of us.

From the New York Amsterdam News
April 17 - 23, 2008