CCHCC is a one-stop-shop for health insurance and public benefits!
Mr. E has renal failure and is on dialysis, but had no income, no health insurance, and no way to afford food, and he was on the brink of losing his housing because of it. He was in a very desperate situation and any security he had in life was gone once he lost his ability to work due to his kidney failure. Mr. E was referred to CCHCC by his dialysis facility. Three different staff members stepped up to help Mr. E. with multiple public benefits. Each staff member who helped Mr. E specializes in a particular area of public benefits. Thanks to the efforts of Paulette, Adani, and Nicole, Mr. E was approved for disability income, as well as SNAP (food stamps), and Medicare and Medicare Savings. Mr. E’s life has stabilized now that he has income, health insurance, secure housing, and can afford food. Mr. E was grateful to CCHCC and was thrilled that CCHCC could provide a “one-stop-shop” for all of these benefits!
Over the years, CCHCC has grown in our ability and expertise to help community members from diverse backgrounds enroll in a wide variety of health insurance and public programs because we saw the need for these services in our community. 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. Beyond health insurance, CCHCC also helps with public benefits such as Medicare Extra Help, Medicare Savings, SNAP, Township General Assistance, and Disability benefits (SSI and SSDI). And, our services are free!
In the process of working with our clients, we often encounter other needs – some being very dire, such as impending evictions and the need for housing assistance and navigation. For example, Shea, a CCHCC Disability Specialist, met Mr. S at the STRIDES shelter when he was living in his car at the shelter parking lot, and needed help applying for disability. While Shea was working with him on his disability case, she helped him enter a hotel program for temporary housing. While he was at the hotel, she helped him apply for a housing voucher. Mr. S is now in his own apartment! He will not have to worry about being homeless this winter. Shea will continue working with him on the disability application process.
CCHCC is one of the only non-profit community-based organizations in the nation that provides help with Disability applications. Disability programs such as SSI and SSDI are incredibly difficult to apply for, and the rates of approval are dismal. But once someone qualifies for these benefits, they will have guaranteed monthly income to live on, and greater stability with housing and basic needs. In some cases, like the one below, an entire family can benefit. CCHCC is the only organization in Champaign County that provides this free service to the public at large.
