Programs
Care and Coverage Programs
Kaiser Permanente of Ohio is committed to helping those without health coverage stay well. We have several programs in place to offer transitional help for those in financial need.
Transition Plan
The Transition Plan is an HMO product, including a prescription drug benefit, at significantly reduced monthly premiums. Members receive quality medical care from Kaiser Permanente physicians in our own conveniently located medical offices.
A community partner helps us identify low-income individuals in financial need who are not eligible for public programs such as Medicaid and Medicare and assists them in applying for The Transition Plan. Applicants may be new or former Kaiser Permanente members.
A limited number of applications for the Transition Plan are made available each month. Call 216-479-5099 for a recorded message with information on how to access an application.
Access to Care Program
Developed by the Healthy Connections Network in Akron, Ohio, the goal of Access to Care is to provide a "medical home" to patients who are without health insurance but ineligible for other assistance programs (Medicare or Medicaid). Patients who have a medical home are more likely to have a better continuity of care and less likely to need high-cost emergency care services.
The program involves a network of Akron-area physicians who provide care to Access to Care patients. It is available in our Chapel Hill and Fairlawn Facilities.
For more information on Access to Care, call 330-315-0209.
Medical Financial Assistance Program
Improving health care access for those with limited incomes and resources is fundamental to Kaiser Permanente’s mission. Our Medical Financial Assistance program (MFA) helps low-income, uninsured, and underserved patients receive access to care. The program provides temporary financial assistance or free care to patients who receive health care services from our providers, regardless of whether they have health coverage or are uninsured. The MFA program is one of the most generous in the health care industry and is available to those patients in greatest need.
Through our charity care program, Kaiser Permanente is committed to:
Who’s Eligible for Medical Financial Assistance?
Please note, the MFA program is not a form of health insurance and can’t be used to subsidize premiums.
How do I know if my income level meets the guidelines for Medical Financial Assistance?
View the federal poverty guideline charts. To calculate income level at 250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, multiply by 2.5.
Please note, for uninsured patients, charges for emergency and medically necessary care are limited to no more than amounts generally billed to Kaiser members or the Medicare reimbursement rates.
How can I learn more about the Medical Financial Assistance Program and how to enroll?
For more information on Medical Financial Assistance or for a pre-screening, call 216-265-8833.
Community Health Initiatives (CHI) - HEAL Program
HEAL – Healthy Eating, Active Living – is part of our Community Health Initiative, a long-term, national strategy of Kaiser Permanente to improve the health of the communities we serve. CHIs support community action to make a measurable impact on the health of a neighborhood. Our HEAL approach is based on the belief that we can improve the overall health of our communities by making the healthy choice the easy choice for people in the communities we serve.
HEAL Cleveland kicked-off in Ward 1 (Lee-Harvard neighborhood) in 2006 with the goal of impacting obesity and preventable disease rates in children and adults and creating opportunities for people to eat better and move more. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio is committed to investing in HEAL to compliment the community work around this public health initiative.
Through HEAL, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio is supporting positive changes in local physical activity and food environments in Ward 1. Eleven community gardens now exist and approximately 20% of the produce grown in these gardens is donated to food banks and hunger centers, increasing access to healthy foods for people of limited means in the community. HEAL partners also work with community leaders, the Ward 1 Councilman and the City of Cleveland to reduce barriers to healthy foods within the community and to design public spaces and parks to be more conducive to an active lifestyle. Specific projects have included new bike lanes, walking paths, and programs for youth.
For more information about Ward 1 HEAL, see the HEAL Report or Councilman Pruitt's newsletter for the HEAL Cleveland health Initiative Update or contact:
Carol Boddy
216-991-8585 ext. 3126
c_a_boddy@yahoo.com
Educational Theatre Programs
Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre Programs (ETP) use live theatre, music, comedy, and drama to inspire children, teens, and adults to make healthier choices and better decisions about their well-being. ETP's live, interactive performances enable students to identify and emotionally engage with characters onstage, as well as learn information in a dynamic way. ETP productions are offered free of charge to eligible schools and community groups.
Kaiser Permanente of Ohio collaborates with the Friends of Cleveland School of the Arts (FCSA) and Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) to present ETP productions. The program uses theatre to train school-based youth actors as health education "ambassadors." Youth actors learn evidence-based productions developed by Kaiser Permanente and perform these productions for age-appropriate audiences throughout CMSD and the community. By using youth actors to present ETP productions, young people who participate become much more knowledgeable and passionate about health issues through the process of rehearsing and performing a production.
Currently, there are two productions available through the Educational Theatre Programs: Secrets and The Amazing Food Detective.
Secrets is an HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention piece targeted to students in grades six through twelve. Secrets educates students about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases by providing them with a realistic look into the lives of people impacted by the HIV virus.
The sleuth is on the case of a cereal criminal and his gang of junk food bandits in The Amazing Food Detective. The production is designed to educate students about the importance of good nutrition and exercise. It inspires students in grades pre-kindergarten through four to make healthier food choices and exercise in a fun way.
For more information please visit the Ohio ETP website.
Safety Net Provider Relationships
Safety net providers are clinics and hospitals within the community that treat patients regardless of their ability to pay. Kaiser Permanente recognizes that such clinics often have limited resources and is committed to sharing resources with them.
Kaiser Permanente is involved in CHAP, Cuyahoga Health Access Partnership, a nonprofit collaboration of 15 public and private organizations that have formed a countywide partnership to provide a coordinated system of healthcare access for Cuyahoga County’s low-income, uninsured adults. It was founded on the principle that all stakeholders have a shared responsibility to address the uninsured crisis in Cuyahoga County. In addition, Kaiser Permanente continues to allocate resources to Safety Net organizations through grants and scholarships.
Develop and Disseminate Knowledge
We are dedicated to improving health care through research programs, education, and training the health care providers of the future.
For more information about any of these program areas, please contact:
Merle Gordon
Manager, Community Benefit
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Ohio.
216-479-5532
