- 25 -
accessHealthNews.net
October 2021
Volume 8 | Issue No. 50
F
or many, affordable health care
has remained out of reach.
Unrealistic requirements for health
insurance have left individuals
falling through the cracks, unable
to afford preventative care and
necessary treatments — until now.
Last year, rural voters showed up for
their neighbors to expand Medicaid
in Missouri, extending health care
coverage to more than 200,000
newly eligible adults.
Through MO HealthNet, parents,
childless adults, people with
disabilities, and more previously
ineligible Missourians are able to
receive free and low-cost insurance.
The newly expanded coverage
includes primary physical, behavioral,
and dental care, among other
services.
Relying on emergency visits for
health care comes with a high cost
for both patients and providers.
Affordable health insurance allows
individuals to invest in their health,
decreasing the likelihood of needing
emergency care. When patients
proactively care for themselves,
they are less likely to develop health
complications later.
The Health Care Collaborative (HCC)
of Rural Missouri provides a variety
of both clinical and social care
services to connect patients to the
resources they need to invest in their
well-being. HCC prioritizes a patient-
centered approach to care, aiming
to give patients a hand up with their
health.
Through HCC's Live Well Community
Health Centers, patients can receive
primary and behavioral health
care, dental care, vaccines, well
woman and child services, and
more either for free or on a sliding
pay scale. HCC also hosts Project
Connect events, offering free health
and social services to community
members as well as resources like
hygiene items, clothing, and more
from their supply warehouse.
HCC community health workers
(CHWs) such as Shelly Harden assist
individuals with applications to
receive Medicaid coverage, food
stamps, rent and utility assistance,
and more. Harden currently helps
patients determine eligibility for
Missouri Medicaid and guides them
through the application process.
NEW EXPANSION GUIDELINES
Eligibility for MO HealthNet depends
on your income, age, health, and
individual needs. You may be eligible
if you are a(n):
• Parent or caretaker with a child
(under age 19). Note: If you have
custody of children, you must also
have healthcare coverage for the
children in order to be eligible.
• Adult (age 19-64) without
disabilities.
• Woman (under age 65) with
breast or cervical cancer.
• Person with disabilities.
• Blind or visually impaired adult.
"A lot of these people have fallen
through the cracks before because
they didn't have children or
weren't pregnant, so this is a great
opportunity for them," Harden said.
"I think it will definitely increase the
ability for more in the community to
access health care as it will be more
affordable, they are now eligible for
it, and it will improve the health of
the low-income population."
WHAT SERVICES ARE COVERED?
"This will cover services like inpatient
hospital services, if you need to
stay overnight in the hospital;
outpatient services, such as doctor
appointments, mental health
services, and lab tests; medicines
prescribed by your doctor; family
care, such as care by a midwife or
family planning resources; screening,
prevention, and treatment for
children; anything that might be
needed," Harden said.
Missouri Medicaid offers protection
for the future, whether you currently
have care needs or not. "Being
healthy is a good reason to utilize
this health insurance," Harden said.
"That way you can do preventative
care to continue being healthy."
Other than preventing or delaying
disease, routine care also
offers peace of mind in case of
emergency.
"Even those who are healthy can have mishaps,
whether that's falling and breaking your arm or
having a heart attack or an appendix attack. It's
better to be safe than sorry."
- Shelly Harden, HCC Community Health Worker
