Premium, Deductive, Copayment Asistance for People Living with HIV https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/proposals-2019/premium-deductive-copayment-asistance-for-people-living-with-hiv https://grants.dudleytdoughertyfoundation.org/@@site-logo/sitelogo-75x75.png

Premium, Deductive, Copayment Asistance for People Living with HIV

Additional Information
Used for	Grant funds will be used to help people living with HIV obtain and keep health insurance that addresses their unique medical needs by providing for health insurance premiums and deductibles, and physician and prescription co-payments.
Benefits	Access to health insurance has enabled may people living with HIV to have access to medical care including life-saving anti-retroviral medication. However people living in poverty - even those with subsidies from the Affordable Care Act - are sometimes unable to pay premiums, co-payments, and deductibles. Funds granted to RAIN for this purpose can help people living with HIV maintain health insurance coverage, and access to physicians and medications. Access to medical services is essential for the health of the individual as well as the health of the community since viral suppression is directly related to regular and continued medication compliance.
Proposal Description	RAIN empowers persons living with HIV and those at risk to be healthy and stigma free. In 2016, RAIN began providing health insurance premium assistance to clients living with HIV, and spent $18,609, an increase over the $11,500 provided in 2015. Because of high demand for premium assistance, all of the resources were used for premiums, though the program may also assist with co-payments and deductibles. In 2017, RAIN provided over $85,000 in health insurance premiums, deductibles and co-payments assistance to individuals who quality for the program. Only about $35,000 of these expenses were reimbursed to RAIN by Ryan White Part A. In 2018, RAIN spent over $360,000 in premiums, co-payments and deductibles assistance! Only about $76,000 is reimbursed by Ryan White Part A. In 2019, we expect the amount needed for financial assistance to be similar to 2019, and the total program cost to be just over $450,000 RAIN does not turn anyone away who is seeking help in enrolling in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. However, we are limited in the number of individuals who can be helped with premium and co-payment assistance by the amount of funding we have available. Your support will be vital in helping us continue to provide this service to LGBTQ individuals living with HIV individuals. A debt to income ratio scale is used to assess clients’ financial needs to ensure the funds are being utilized to fill the largest gaps. Each client receiving assistance is contacted monthly to ensure they are not experiencing barriers and are still actively engaged in medical care. Number of Clients to be Served in 2019 with insurance premium assistance and deductibles, and/or physician visits and prescription medication co-payments: 100 unduplicated clients Qualification measures: RAIN will document that individuals served by this program (1) have an HIV diagnosis, (2) live in Mecklenburg County, and (3) have incomes between 100% and 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Outcome Measures: (1) 100% of individuals served will gain comprehensive health care coverage. (2) 80% of individuals served will achieve viral suppression. RAIN is uniquely qualified to deliver this program because of our long history of providing services for the LGBTQ community and people living with HIV in the Charlotte/Mecklenburg County. RAIN is recognized for expertise in assisting people living with HIV in navigating the ACA insurance marketplace. Since 2014, RAIN has been helping people living with HIV access health insurance that was appropriate for their unique needs. Our evaluation processes show that people who have access to health insurance through this program have better clinical outcomes.