Healthcare Assistance Program

Click here to read a brochure on the Healthcare Assistance Program.

We believe in the basic right to health care, with the responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable people in our community. The CHS Healthcare Assistance Program (HAP) was created to make sure members of our community are able to receive the medical care they need, regardless of what they can afford to pay.

What is the CHS Healthcare Assistance Program (HAP)?

It is a program that allows persons to receive medically necessary services at no charge or reduced charge if they are eligible at CHS facilities. It is not an insurance program and does not replace benefits and payments that are, or could be, received from government programs that pay for care. Some of these programs include Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC). HAP covers the cost of healthcare "forgiven" by CHS hospitals and services for people who are unable (through private payment, employer payment, or public aid) to pay for healthcare services, or people unable to get health care because of limited resources, inadequate education, or discrimination. This program does not apply to CHS long-term and home care programs.

Who is eligible?

HAP is primarily for Erie and Niagara county residents. Residents of other counties may participate if a similar program is not available in their area. Participants must meet the program’s income requirements, and have savings and/or investments under certain amounts set by CHS. These requirements are based on poverty guidelines and change each year. Copies of these guidelines can be found on the HAP application, or by calling a CHS financial counseling representative listed in this brochure. They are also available in all CHS hospital admissions areas.

Who is not eligible?

You are NOT eligible if:

Your income exceeds income and other guidelines
You already have health insurance
You have Medicare and are over 65-years-old
You are eligible for Medicaid, Child Health Plus or Family Health Plus

Financial Aid

The Catholic Health System is proud of its mission to provide care to all who need it.

If you do not have health insurance or worry that you may not be able to pay in full for your care, we can help. CHS hospitals provide financial aid to patients based on their income, assets and needs. We also may be able to help you with information on free or low-cost health insurance, or work with you to arrange a manageable payment plan.

It is important that you let us know if you will have trouble paying your bill. Federal and State laws require all hospitals to seek full payment for what they bill patients. This means we may have to turn unpaid or ignored bills over to a collection agency. We want to work with you to make sure this does not happen.

What is not covered?

The Catholic Health System’s Healthcare Assistance Program does have limits to what it will cover. Please read this information carefully:

HAP will NOT cover services provided more than three months before the date the program application is received. If you do not make payment arrange-ments for services received prior to that time, you will not be eligible for the program.
This program does NOT cover doctor fees, even if that doctor’s office is located at one of our hospitals. Only physician fees/services at our hospital-operated primary care sites (listed in this brochure) are covered.
If our sites do not provide the type of service you need, you may be referred to private specialists. Services provided by these specialists are NOT covered.
Cosmetic surgery is NOT covered.
Charges for medical equipment and supplies are NOT covered.
Physician services such as radiology, anesthesia emergency room physicians, consulting visits, or
Any private provider are not covered.

For these services, you will need to make private/separate payment arrangements.

How do I apply?

People wishing to apply for HAP must first apply to and receive a denial form or letter from Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. This denial form or letter must be submitted with the HAP application. This denial form or letter must show what the applicant’s monthly income was determined to be by the county.

One form is used to apply for Medicaid, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. Applicants must fill out the form in person at any of the following locations:

Your County Department of Social Services
The Catholic Health System Revenue Management Center (716) 601-3600.

After proving ineligibility for these health insurance programs, people wishing to apply for HAP should contact the CHS Business Office to receive an application or arrange an appointment. All adults in a household, excluding married couples, must apply individually. The application should be submitted before receiving medical services. Notification of acceptance or ineligibility will be sent to applicants by mail. Most applications are processed within 30 days.

How do I use these benefits?

Once you have been approved for HAP, you must become a patient at one of the CHS primary care or ambulatory sites listed below. Call the site to make an appointment. If you do not provide proof of your HAP coverage, the bills will be sent to you. If your receive a bill, you must mail it back with a copy of your HAP approval letter or come directly to the Business Office/Revenue Management Center (see above).

Once you have been approved, you will need to re-certify in six months or the beginning of the next calendar year (whichever comes first) to continue coverage.

Health Insurance Programs

People applying for HAP must prove to be ineligible for the following health insurance and prescription programs:

Medicaid is a program for New York State residents who cannot afford to pay for medical care. People may be covered by Medicaid if they have high medical bills, receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or if they meet certain income, resource, age or disability requirements. For more information, contact your county’s Department of Social Services.

Child Health Plus is a health insurance plan for children under the age of 19. Children must be residents of New York State. There are two programs: Child Health Plus A or Child Health Plus B. Family income will determine which program a child may qualify for. Children who are not eligible for Child Health Plus A can enroll in Child Health Plus B if they do not already have health insurance and are not eligible for coverage under the public employees’ state health benefits plan. For more information call (800) 698-4543.

Family Health Plus is a public health insurance program for adults between the ages of 19 and 64 who do not have health insurance – either on their own or through their employers – but have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid. Family Health Plus is available to single adults, couples without children, and parents with limited income. Members must be resident of New York State and United States citizens, or fall under one of many immigration categories. For information, call (877) 9FH-PLUS or (877) 934-7587.

Prescription Drug Coverage - Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) is a New York State-sponsored prescription plan for senior citizens who need help paying for their prescriptions. New York State residents can join EPIC if they are 65 or older and meet income requirements. EPIC members will be required to pay fees, deductibles, or co-payments. Seniors who receive full Medicaid benefits or have other prescription coverage that is better than EPIC are not eligible. EPIC will not pay for medication dispensed by at Catholic Health System pharmacy. For an application, call (800) 332-3742.

**Catholic Health System Healthcare Assistance Program benefits listed here are effective January 1, 2004 and subject to change. HAP does not apply to CHS long-term and home care programs.**