Tomorrow, about 11,500 legal immigrants in the Greater Boston area who lost their Commonwealth Care coverage on August 31st will be transitioned into the new Commonwealth Care Bridge plan, offered by CeltiCare. Legal immigrants in this category north and south of Boston will be enrolled on November 1st; Central and Western Mass residents will transition on December 1st.
While people in these areas are waiting for their coverage to begin, they remain eligible for the Health Safety Net program (formerly free care) and some may be eligible for emergency care via MassHealth Limited. Community Partners has a good explanation of these options, here.
The enrollment materials will include an insurance card with a primary care physician (PCP) assigned to the member. The assignments will not carry over the member’s current PCP, so unless someone gets their current PCP by chance, each member will be assigned a new primary care doctor. Members can call at any time, however, to switch their primary care physician if they want to. The doctor must be in the network, which in Boston will be based on the Caritas Christi network. Additional health centers are being added as the plan negotiates with centers.
The following documents contain details about the plan:
CeltiCare’s customer service numbers will also be up and running tomorrow, with a dedicated phone number for folks in active treatment to call. CeltiCare says they plan to look at each care transition case individually to determine whether clients will be able to stay with their current providers to continue treatment.
CeltiCare Website: celticarehealthplan.com
Member Services: 866-895-1786
Direct line into medical management dep’t for care transition issues (for those in active treatment): 866-895-1786 ext. 65292
TDD/TTY line: 866-614-1949
If you or someone you know needs assistance the following resources are available:
- HCFA HelpLine: (800) 272-4232 or click here for our online HelpLine service.
- Community Partners: (413) 253-4283 / www.compartners.org
- Mass Law Reform Institute: (617) 350-0700 x309 or 318
- MIRA Coalition: (617) 350-5480
-Suzanne Curry
Health Reform Coalition Coordinator
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Sorry, but how can this be true — “CeltiCare plans to look at each care transition case individually to determine whether clients will be able to stay with their current providers to continue treatment.” — when the insurer has refused to negotiate contracts with major providers in the Boston Area? See more here: http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2009/09/immigrants-left-in-lurch-again.html.
I understand why HCFA might choose to emphasize the portion of the glass that is full, but there is a much larger portion that is not.