April 2009Healthy San Francisco Provides Access to Medical CareBy Gina PoggiWhen Castro resident Joe Caruso lost his job and his employer-sponsored health insurance, he resorted to paying for coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). Under COBRA, laid-off employees are allowed to remain on their former employer-sponsored health insurance, as long as they pick up the tab to do so. But the costly monthly installments quickly diminished his funds. “I couldn’t afford it or anything else for that matter. I went through all of my savings and credit cards and all that,” said Caruso. Although Caruso wanted to avoid relying on government assistance, as a last resort he enrolled in Healthy San Francisco (HSF). HSF provides accessible and affordable health care services to otherwise uninsured City residents who have an income at or below 500 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Participants are assigned a primary care facility at one of 27 clinics, and hospital services are provided at San Francisco General Hospital. Patients have access to urgent care, mental health care, substance abuse services, pharmaceuticals and other medical care for a quarterly fee and co-payments based on their incomes. Caruso’s high cholesterol level is treated at the Family Health Center in Potrero Hill. “Everyone there was there to do a great job and you could tell,” he said. His medication, which used to cost him more than a hundred dollars a month, is now free. HSF has removed a huge weight off the 43 year old’s shoulders. “If I don’t take my [medication] I could have a stroke, I could have a heart attack, I could be disabled.” San Francisco is the first city in the nation to provide universal health care to its residents. Since the program’s inception in 2007, HSF has provided roughly 36,000 participants with access to health care services. “I think it’s one of the best things that Mayor Newsom and the [City and County] of San Francisco did for the people of San Francisco,” said Caruso. “It’s important to have health care… I’m glad I live in a city that provides it. I’m truly grateful for it.” For more information visit healthysanfrancisco.org. |
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