Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/431369
51 The People's Guide 2015 Health Care 1. Do I Qualify for Free Care under ATP or My Health LA? You can get free hospital and clinic care if you get General Relief, or through MHLA or ATP, if your gross monthly income (after special deductions) is below the following chart: # in Family Income 1 $1343 2 $1809 3 $2276 4 $2743 5 $3210 6 $3677 (As of 2014) If your income is higher than these amounts and you receive care at a County facility you may have to pay a reduced rate for services, depending upon your income. 2. How Do I Apply for MHLA or ATP? My Health LA (MHLA) is a no cost health program that provides health care coverage to low-income uninsured adults who don't qualify for "full scope" Medi-Cal. You may be eligible for MHLA if: • You are a Los Angeles County resident. • You are 6 years of age or older • You are not pregnant. • You have no health care coverage • You meet monthly income limits. (see above for income limits) Health benefits at no cost to you include: • Excellent quality primary care • Many clinics and health centers to choose from as your medical home • ID Card to let people know you are a member of MHLA • Toll free member information line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even on holidays • Preventive and primary care services within 30 working days, as well as specialty care, hospital care, and emergency room visits at a LA County hospital or clinic For more information, please call My Health LA Member Services. ATP If you get your care, at a county clinic, it's best to use ATP. ATP pays for all clinic and hospital care, including medicines, tests and lab work. You must apply annually. If you don't qualify for free ATP you might qualify for low-cost ATP. The screener will figure out what you must pay, if anything, for each visit. The application process is only one page asking about family size and income. However, you don't need to bring docu- ments to show proof of the information; you just sign a form stating that what you say is true. Later, random patients will be asked to provide documents to prove income. Be sure to save your income documents for at least one year after you apply. ATP is good for one year, and at the end of one year you will have to apply again. To apply for ATP, you must make an ap- pointment for a financial screening at a county hospital or clinic that has an ATP worker. Sometimes you will be able to be seen the same day, but you may have to wait. You do not have to wait for your financial screening to get care. If you ap- pear to qualify for Medi-Cal, you will be asked to apply and either get a decision that you are not eligible or are only eligible for restricted benefits before an ATP ap- plication will be taken. Be very firm about your right to apply for free care and be sure to ask for ATP at the county clinics. If it is your first visit to a county hospital or clinic, they should give you a written notice regarding available plans, including ATP, to reduce the cost of your medical care. If you do not receive this notice at your first visit, ask for one. If the worker or the clinic screener you see tells you that you do not qualify for ATP or free care and you do not agree, ask to meet with the worker's supervisor within 10 working days. If you were found ineligible before, you may reapply. If you are unable to keep your screening appointment, call the worker immediately or you may be billed for the full cost of any treatment you have already received. Even if you do not qualify for ATP, you still have a chance to pay a low-cost fee for the outpatient services within seven days. 3. Pre-Payment Plan The Pre-Payment Plan is only available at County clinics and hospitals. It cov- ers cost of care but often does not cover your prescriptions (however, you can get emergency prescriptions, public health medicines, and medicines provided in the clinic at no cost). You do not have to prove your income, family size, or resources if you pay the fol- lowing standard fees within seven days of treatment. But you do need to show proof that you live in L.A. County. If you do not pay these fees, you will be billed for the much higher full amount cost of care: • $80 at all County Comprehensive Care Centers, County Hospital Outpatient Clinics, and Public Health Centers; for prenatal visits, the first seven cost $60 and remaining visits are free • $80 at County Comprehensive Health Center Urgent Care Centers • $140 at County Hospital Emergency Rooms • $500 at Hospital Outpatient Surgery Clinics Most Community Partner clinics also of- fer a sliding scale for patients who don't qualify for free care. 4. What Else Should I Know? If you have any questions about your care, need referrals, or have a complaint, call the County Health line: (800) 427-8700. You can also call the Health Consumer Hotline:(800) 896-3203. • If you receive free or low cost medical care, your medicines are free. • Non-citizens with restricted Medi-Cal coverage who live in L.A. County can apply for ATP or MHLA to cover non- emergency care. • Before using ATP, you must use any other medical benefits you have such as private insurance, or outpatient Medicare. ATP will cover your deduct- ible for private insurance, but will not cover inpatient Medicare deductibles and Medi-Cal "Share of Cost". • Foreign visitors with a valid visa can receive emergency services at County hospitals and clinics, but are not entitled to ATP, Pre-Pay or MHLA for medical services. They may apply for the County's Out of County Discount Payment Plan. 5.Cancer Detection Program: Every Woman Counts (EWC) EWC provides free mammograms for women age 40 and over and free pap smears for women over age 21. Your family income must be below 200% of poverty. The services are provided at doctors' of- fices, clinics and hospitals all over Los Angeles County. Call the Cancer Detection Program at (800) 511-2300.