State program helps chronically ill who lack money, insurance
10 03 08 - 11:58
By LARRY WEISS
adn.com/healthcareblog
The Chronic & Acute Medical Assistance (CAMA) program is a state-funded program designed to help needy Alaskans who have specific illnesses get the medical care they need to manage those illnesses. It is a program primarily for people age 21 through 64 who do not qualify for Medicaid benefits, have very little income and have inadequate or no health insurance.
To be eligible for CAMA, you must have a covered medical condition, no third party resources to cover treatment of that medical condition, limited financial resources and be a U.S. citizen or legal alien.
CAMA is available only if you have one of the following medical conditions: a terminal illness, cancer requiring chemotherapy, chronic diabetes or diabetes insipidus, chronic seizure disorders, chronic mental illness and chronic hypertension.
In addition to having a covered medical condition and no other resources to meet that health care need, you must meet the following financial eligibility requirements.
Your household income must be $300 a month or less for one person, $400 a month or less for two people; after two people, continue to add $100 for each additional person.
You must have less than $500 in countable resources that could be used to pay medical bills. Countable resources include cash, bank and credit union accounts, or personal property. CAMA does not count your home, one vehicle, income-producing property, property that is used for your job (boat, fishing gear, etc.) or a fishing permit.
For those who are eligible, CAMA pays for the following services: prescription drugs and medical supplies, limited to three prescriptions per month and no more than a 30-day supply of any drug; physician services that are directly related to the medical condition that qualifies you for CAMA; chemotherapy and radiation services for a recipient with cancer requiring; chemotherapy, if provided in an outpatient setting; and outpatient laboratory and X-ray services.
If you have questions about CAMA eligibility, please contact dpapolicy@health.state.ak.us. If you have questions about CAMA coverage, please call the Health Care Services Recipient Information Line at 1-800-780-9972.
FREE AND CHEAP HEALTH CARE NO. 10
With a few exceptions, every employee in Alaska is covered by workers' compensation insurance. Employers are required by law to carry it. If you are injured on the job or have an illness that is job- related, most or all of your medical expenses will be paid by the employer or the insurance carried by your employer. There are no deductibles and there are no co-payments. The employee does not pay premiums for this health insurance coverage.
The coverage is great if you qualify for it, but it is kind of a bureaucratic hassle to get. Make certain you read "Worker's Compensation and You" distributed by the Division of Worker's Compensation. Yes, I know it is not "user friendly," but struggle through it.
A few other things to remember:
• Fill out "Report of Occupational Injury and Illness" within 30 days of the injury or you may lose all rights to paid health care!
• Be wary about employers who try to talk you out of filing a report -- you could give away your right to paid treatment for your injury or illness.
• Call the Workers' Compensation Division if you have questions at 1-907-465-2790.
• If your claim is "controverted" by the insurance company or employer, in other words if some or all of the claim is denied, consider contacting an attorney who specializes in workers' compensation issues.
Larry Weiss retired from UAA in 2004 as a research professor in public health. He has published three books and numerous articles on public health and health policy issues. He writes the Health4all blog at adn.com/healthcareblog.