Care for the Uninsured
A growing Problem
In 2007, one in every nine Wisconsin residents went at least part of the year without health insurance. In Dane County alone, that number adds up to nearly 40,000 people that went without access to even basic health care. When 2008 data are released they are almost certain to be even worse.
Government programs like BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid provide care for the poorest, but “working poor” families are often ineligible for medical assistance. In fact, more than 75 percent of uninsured individuals are employed. But their jobs don’t provide health benefits, and they can’t afford to purchase insurance on their own.
Uninsured residents who have slipped through the cracks often end up in the emergency room for routine ailments like ear infections. And without access to basic health care, manageable conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol often go untreated until they turn into serious problems that result in preventable emergency room visits or hospital stays. Already struggling families end up facing mountains of debt that could be avoided.
An Innovative Solution
Through the generosity of our benefactors and donors, Our Lady of Hope Clinic provides the area’s first full-time free clinic to provide the care uninsured patients need to get healthy and stay healthy.
By eliminating costs like billing and insurance claim filing, we are able to keep a low overhead that makes it possible to give more than half of our visits away free to uninsured recipients. We estimate we will give away more than 3000 clinic visits to those in need each year.
When most health care headlines these days seem to announce bad news, this innovative solution takes the first step toward solving a very large problem. Our Lady of Hope Clinic is honored to continue the longstanding Catholic health care tradition by providing corporal works of mercy to those in need.
How Can Recipients Schedule Appointments?
Uninsured recipients can schedule appointments in person on a walk-in Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays recipients are asked to be at the clinic at 8:00 a.m. to schedule a morning appointment or 1:00 p.m. to schedule an afternoon appointment. We are closed on Wednesdays.
To ensure that we can dedicate our time and resources to individuals who have no access to primary care, we ask recipients bring in their eligibility denial letter. Recipients receive this letter from the county/state after applying for medical assistance (BadgerCare or Medicaid). Our Lady of Hope Clinic physicians become the primary care provider for recipients who continue to qualify for our services, thereby ensuring they receive the necessary continuity of care important for meeting the health care needs of patients. We will reassess eligibility on a yearly basis.
There will almost certainly be days when the need for our services is greater than our capacity to provide care. On those occasions, we will invite recipients to return another day. As we bring on additional benefactors and donors, our capacity to serve the uninsured will increase.
To learn how you can help our mission of providing compassionate care to those in need, click here.
