Public benefits and health insurance are complicated
December 2023
En Español: Esta es una carta solicitando una donación para el trabajo que hace CCHCC. Si tiene preguntas sobre esta carta, o para mas información sobre donando a CCHCC, llame a (217) 352-6533 y pregunte por Chris o Adani.
By now, most people know that CCHCC is the only organization in Champaign County that can help enroll community members in all forms of health insurance – whether that be Medicaid, Marketplace, or Medicare and Medicare-related programs. But did you know that CCHCC does far more than health insurance enrollment work?
Over the years, CCHCC has grown in our ability and expertise to help community members enroll in a wide variety of public programs because we saw the need in our community.
Helping individuals who are homeless
In 2023, CCHCC has had a “growth spurt” – once again, to rise to the challenges of meeting the needs of our community members. This means all of our community members, including those individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
CCHCC now has dedicated staff to work with homeless individuals and the various organizations in our community who also serve the homeless. We partner with the Strides Shelter, Cunningham Township, City of Champaign Township, Daily Bread, RPC, the Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless, local law enforcement, and our local hospitals to help deliver enrollment services. Our services include helping with Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), Rx assistance, health care navigation, and disability applications for individuals experiencing homelessness.
We have also expanded our services to immigrants, seniors, and individuals with disabilities
In Champaign County, we have growing populations of low-income immigrants, seniors, and individuals living with disabilities who need help with health insurance, health care, and public benefits. Our work helping people apply for public benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare Extra Help, Medicare Savings, AABD, disability programs like SSI and SSDI, and so on, is helping to create better financial stability for low-income individuals in these population groups.
Disability application assistance
Have you ever tried to apply for disability benefits from SSI or SSDI? These programs are very difficult to apply for, and most applicants in the state of Illinois are denied these benefits. Many applicants give up after numerous applications and appeals, only to suffer as a result of not being able to work and earn an income. CCHCC is the only organization in Champaign County that provides this service to the public at large. Again, this was a desperate need that we saw in our community, and we are proud to be able to offer this service.
Our Rx Fund helps many in need
One of the programs we have developed over the past few years – again, as a result of seeing a need in our community – is our Rx Fund. Our Rx Fund helps to pay for medications when they are too expensive, or when the individual has lost their health insurance. People who have Medicaid often find out first at the pharmacy that their insurance has “dropped out” and that they are no longer covered. This is often the result of glitches in the state’s Medicaid system. Through the Rx Fund, we can help cover a person’s medications, and also help them get their health insurance reinstated. Many people do not know that the most expensive medications include inhalers, psych meds, and certain eye drops.
And, of course, we continue our health insurance enrollment work
CCHCC has been doing enrollment work for Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace plans, as well as other programs for years. And our services are free! CCHCC staff are federally Certified Application Counselors, and we provided our free services to help thousands of community members get, and keep, affordable health insurance. Besides ACA Marketplace plans, our staff also help with Medicare enrollment, Open Enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, and Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care plans.
Please consider making a contribution to help support CCHCC’s ongoing work to enroll as many community members as possible in affordable health insurance and other benefits. CCHCC is here to help our community members whenever they need us – whether they need help with health insurance, prescriptions, or various public benefit programs! The work we do can help stabilize community members’ health, and their financial lives. And in turn, we need your help! Please consider making a year-end financial contribution to support CCHCC’s work.
SUPPORT CCHCC!
Thank you for your support!
We appreciate your financial support for our services. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier community – together, we are giving the gift of health and security!
Sincerely,
Claudia Lennhoff
Executive Director
Champaign County Health Care Consumers