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Healthcare

How Do I Get Health Insurance?

The quality of healthcare in America is generally good. It is also very expensive. For most people, health insurance is the key to being able to pay for not only emergency care but routine check-ups as well.

If you do not have medical insurance, each visit to a doctor can cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars if additional services are needed. Failure to pay the bill can affect your credit report, which may reduce your ability to get loans in the future. You cannot be arrested or sent to jail for failing to pay medical or other bills.

Relatives who sponsor immigrants coming into the country have to file an affidavit of support. That affidavit is a binding agreement that the relative will provide for the needs of the sponsored immigrant. If the immigrant receives public benefits while the affidavit of support is in effect, the sponsor may be sued for the value of the public benefits the immigrant may have used in the U.S.

Many people can get health insurance through their employers. For those who cannot, you should buy a plan from a well-known company. Read everything they provide carefully and be ready to ask questions. Make sure you know what services are covered: Are regular doctors' visits covered or is the plan only for hospitalization? Do you need a doctor's note (a referral) every time you have to see a specialty doctor? Does your plan cover buying prescription medicine, check ups with an eye doctor (ophthalmologist), and prescription glasses?

Remember, if you don't have health insurance, each visit to the doctor or hospital can be expensive. However, if you earn less than a certain income, you might be eligible for medical assistance.

Medical Assistance (MA) is available to citizens, qualified immigrants and a broader range of immigrants considered Permanently Residing in the U.S. Under Color of Law, which means living permanently in the United States with the knowledge and permission of the immigration service. If you are here lawfully and permanently, and are not here temporarily, then you are likely to be eligible for Medical Assistance if you meet all other income, resource, and health requirements.

Emergency Medical Assistance, which covers treatment of emergency medical conditions, is available regardless of immigration status. Emergency medical service is defined as conditions with acute symptoms of such severity, including severe pain, that without immediate medical treatment, the result may be impairment of bodily functions, dysfunction of a body part or organ, or serious jeopardy to the patient's health. Emergency Medical Condition includes labor and delivery and does not include procedures related to organ transplants.

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Can I get Medical Assistance?

Medical Assistance is free medical insurance for low-income parents, children, and adults with disabilities. When you apply for free medical assistance, the welfare office will ask you about your income and your health. The welfare office will also ask you about your immigration status. If you or your children fit into one of the categories below, you may qualify for free medical assistance:

If your children fit into one of the above categories, but you do not, you should still apply for medical assistance for your children.

Find out whether you qualify for medical assistance.

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What If I Have an Emergency Medical Condition?

People with emergency medical conditions are eligible for treatment on a short-term basis through Emergency Medical Assistance. It does not matter what your immigration status is and you do not have to answer any question about immigration status if you apply for Emergency Medical Assistance. If you need assistance in applying for emergency medical assistance, call Community Legal Services at 215.227.6485 or the Pennsylvania Health Law Project at 1-800-274-3258.

If you need immediate medical attention, call 911. Be ready to describe how you feel, give the dispatcher your name and address. The dispatcher will send an ambulance to where you are. Remember, calling 911 is for emergencies only. There will be fees charged for the ambulance, and all the emergency room services as well. If you qualify for free Medical Assistance within three months after you have a medical emergency, and can show that you were eligible on the date of your emergency, your bills can be paid through the Medical Assistance program.

Unlike for adults, children on Medicaid are entitled to all medically necessary services. Medical Assistance and the federally funded Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) have different provider networks and different benefits and different eligibility requirements.

In general, parents with very low incomes qualify for medical assistance for their children. Families with slightly higher incomes qualify for CHIP. Families do not have a choice between MA or CHIP. Which program a child is eligible for depends on the family's gross income, family size and age of a child. CHIP coverage is comprehensive and includes many preventive and diagnostic treatment services. There are no co-pays or deductibles.

You can learn more about CHIP and apply online.

Through the Caring Foundation, founded by Independence Blue Cross and Highmark Blue Shield, insurance plans are offered at minimal costs to the uninsured who do not qualify for medical assistance. More information is available on their site.

The Caring Foundation is also the administrator of the CHIP program. Visit www.caringfoundation.com for more information.

The WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program is available to pregnant and breast-feeding women, as well as to children up to the age of 5, without regard to immigration status. WIC provides nutritional information, food and other social services to pregnant women, mothers and children under 5 who are considered at nutritional risk. For information on the WIC Center closest to you, call 1-800-WIC-WINS.

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Where Do I Go To Apply For Medical Assistance?

Go to your local welfare office and remember that you are entitled to a free interpreter if you can not speak or understand English. To find your local welfare office call 1-800-692-7462.

Assistance offices in the five county area:
Bucks County Assistance Office
1214 New Rodgers Road
Bristol, PA 19007-2593

Warminster District
1386 West Street Road
Warminster, PA 18974-3111

Chester County Assistance Office
100 James Buchanan Drive
Thorndale, PA 19372-1132

Delaware County Assistance Office Headquarters & Crosby District
701 Crosby Street, Suite A
Chester, PA 19013-6099

Darby District
845 Main Street
Darby, PA 19023

Montgomery County Assistance Office Norristown District
1931 New Hope Street
Norristown, PA 19401-3191

Philadelphia County Assistance Office Headquarters
Philadelphia State Office Building
1400 Spring Garden Street
Philadelphia, PA 19130-4088

Alden District
5853 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144-2154

Boulevard District
4109 Frankford Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19124-4508

Center District
900 North Marshall Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123-1307

Delancey District
5740 Market Street, 2nd Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19139-3204

Elmwood District
5740 Market Street, 1st Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19139-3204

Federal District
1334 Bainbridge Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147-1810

Girard District
961 North Marshall Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123-1306

Hill District
301 East Chelten Ave. 3rd Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19144-5751

Jefferson District
2701 North Broad Street. 3rd Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19132-2743

Kent District
2701 North Broad Street, 2nd Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19132-2743

Lehigh District
2701 North Broad Street, 4th Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19132-2743

North District
219 East Lehigh Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19125-1099

Nursing Home District
4601 Market Street, Ground Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19139-4616

Ogontz District
301 East Chelten Ave, 2nd Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19144-5751

Ridge District
1350 West Sedgley Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132-2496

Snyder District
990 Buttonwood Street, 5th Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19123-1306

Tioga District
1348 West Sedgley Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19132-2498

Unity District
4111 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19124-4508

Vine District
4601 Market Street, 1st Flr
Philadelphia, PA 19139-4616

West District
5070 Parkside Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131-4747

Besides health insurance, it is wise to also consider dental insurance because each visit to the dentist can also cost hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

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How Do I Get Dental Insurance?

Dental insurance is often not covered under regular health insurance. Read more information on dental insurance through medical assistance.

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Health Information Sites

Basic healthcare needs in other languages

Health Information Translations: Quality translations in multiple languages

PhillyHealthInfo: Healthcare in the Philadelphia region

Cultural differences in approach to healthcare

Breast cancer related information

Free clinic for working uninsured living in Bucks and Montgomery counties

According to the Department of Public Health for the City of Philadelphia, any resident of the City can access medical and dental care by calling one of the city's health care centers. These health care center locations are:

Philadelphia Health Care Center #1
For sexually transmitted disease and HIV testing only
1400 Lombard Street
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 685-6570

Philadelphia Health Care Center #2
1720 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19145
(215) 685-1803
Languages spoken: English, Vietnamese & Cambodian

Philadelphia Health Care Center #3
555 South 43rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 685-7500
Languages spoken: English, Spanish, French, Vietnamese & Cambodian

Philadelphia Health Care Center #4
4400 Haverford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 685-7600

Philadelphia Health Care Center #5
1920 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19121
(215) 685-2933

Philadelphia Health Care Center #6
321 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 685-3803
Languages spoken: English & Spanish

Philadelphia Health Care Center #9
131 East Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144
(215) 685-5701

Philadelphia Health Care Center #10
2230 Cottman Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19149
(215) 685-0639
Languages spoken: English & Russian

Strawberry Mansion Health Center
2840 Dauphin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215) 685-2401

Local Government agencies
Asian/Pacific American Health Consortium
Asociacion De Puertorriquenos En Marcha (APM)

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