NNB News

Patients get primary care at the Pinellas County Health Department.

By Libby Hendren

St. Petersburg–While the debate over how to overhaul the health insurance system continues on Capitol Hill, Pinellas County residents without coverage don’t have to wait for a compromise. A program is already available for low income men and women in need.

According to covertheuninsured.org, 80.2 percent of Floridians have health insurance. For the nearly 20 percent who don’t, the Medical Home Program provides free primary care, helping them get tests and stay healthy without making trips to the emergency room for routine medical needs. The program is for those 18 years and older who are essentially among the working poor.

“It’s certainly for the uninsured but there are requirements in terms of residency, citizenship and income,” the director of clinical services for the Pinellas County Health Department, Patricia Boswell, said.

In 2008, the Health Department anticipated about 3,000 people would enroll in the program, but more than 7,000 people responded. Boswell said they haven’t had to turn anyone away who qualified.

In addition to the Health Department’s main location at 205 Dr. M.L. King Jr. St. North, the program is available at two other health department sites and five community centers like Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center in Midtown.

Midtown business owner Eric Atwater, known as “Cook E Man”, has health insurance and says he’ll be able to provide health insurance to future employees when he expands his business. The 34 year old said lawmakers are going to have a hard time repairing the health insurance system without encouraging young people to work and depend on themselves. Atwater is a long time supporter of President Barack Obama and saw him at his January appearance at the University of Tampa.

“Give the man a chance,” Atwater said.

He thinks the public should give the President an opportunity to try to work out the country’s social problems like the lack of universal healthcare.

“I think everyone should have health insurance,” Atwater said.

A St. Petersburg pizza restaurant owner said he has gone without health insurance for several years.

“It was just something where I was like I’m in my 20s and if you’re in your 20s, you don’t feel like you need it,” Rubino’s Perfect Slice owner Steve Steele said.

Now, the 31 year old wants health insurance not only for himself, but also for his employees.

Medical Home would help people like Steele get cancer screenings, prescriptions and treatment for minor illnesses like an earache or sore throat for free. The program is funded in conjunction with Pinellas County Health and Human Services.

In order to be eligible, you must have no insurance (including Medicare and Medicaid), be a Pinellas County resident between the ages of 18 and 64, be a United States Citizen, Naturalized Citizen, or Refugee with I-94 status, and meet low income requirements.

Even if you don’t qualify for the primary care coverage, there are still some options.

“We do have what we call LIP – low income pool – funds available to serve the other portion of the uninsured – that would be a lot of the working poor that don’t receive health benefits through their employers,” Boswell said.

The Health Department also offers a Saturday Clinic from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the uninsured. There is a sliding scale fee based on income. For more information, call (727) 820-4242. For more information about Medical Home, log on to www.pinellascounty.org/hhs.