Arrowcare, County’s New Low Income Health Program, Recently Implemented

Anew health care program is available to San Bernardino County's uninsured population through the state's Low Income Health Program. The LIHP is made possible by the Affordable Care Act's Medi-Cal expansion and the state's waiver between the state and federal government. It will allow half a million Californians to take advantage of expanded coverage options before 2014, when federal law expands coverage in the rest of the country. This early expansion of coverage is a county option, which most counties are taking advantage of in order to provide health care for the uninsured in a more effective and less expensive manner.

In San Bernardino County it is called ArrowCare, which the county very recently implemented on January 1. It will replace the county's Medically Indigent Adults (MIA) program.

According to Ron Boatman, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center assistant hospital administrator, ArrowCare expands benefits to eligible participants. For example, where MIA charged a $3 copay for prescription, there are no copays through ArrowCare; mental health services are covered; emergency services are covered anywhere in the nation, and there is no cap on emergency services as MIA had.

Boatman would like to have 20,000 individuals enrolled in ArrowCare by the end of June. Currently there are a little over 2,000 in the program.

There are 16,000 individuals enrolled in the MIA program, and each one of those individuals will be sent an application for their transfer to ArrowCare.

There are numerous locations within ARMC where individuals may apply for ArrowCare, including at all county clinics and Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) offices. Applications are also accepted online, the preferred, more efficient method, and by telephone.

Any person who is denied eligibility for Medi-Cal will be automatically enrolled in ArrowCare if eligible.

"San Bernardino County has the opportunity to be on the cutting edge on health care reform through this program," Boatman said. "We are always doing our best to provide for the communities in San Bernardino County."

You may be eligible for ArrowCare if you...

* Are between the ages of 19-64;

* Are a U.S. citizen or have satisfactory immigration status;

* Are a resident of San Bernardino County;

* Have income at or below the Federal Poverty Level: $908/month for individuals; $l,226/month for couples.

You are not eligible for ArrowCare if you are...

* Eligible for Medi-Cal

* Eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program

* Pregnant

ArrowCare benefits:

* Routine health care in an authorized clinic or doctor's office

* Acute inpatient and outpatient emergency coverage (including transportation)

* Prior authorized outpatient specialty services

* Prescription medication

* Laboratory and radiology services

* Inpatient and outpatient mental health services

* Physical therapy

*Podiatry

* Prosthetics, orthotics, medical equipment and supplies.

Customer service centers are peppered across the county. For information regarding eligibility, call the TAD at 1-877-410-8829. You can apply online at www.c4yourself.com.

San Bernardino County recently implemented the Low Income Health Program, ArrowCare, on January 1. This new insurance for low income individuals expands benefits that include mental health services and emergency services, and replaces MIA (Medically Indigent Adults). County residents are encouraged to apply online at www.c4yourself.com or call 1 -877-410-8829.