Carson City Hospital will be participating in the new Health Insurance Program (HIP) for Michigan, a program to insure individuals in Michigan who have previously been denied coverage due to a pre-existing medical condition. The program is federally sponsored and offers affordable, high-quality health coverage to Michigan residents who have been uninsured for at least six months and have an eligible condition.
“Michigan has an estimated 1.2 million uninsured individuals, so the potential for this program to make an impact on our patients is considerable,” said Carson City Hospital President and CEO Bruce L. Traverse, FACHE.
Like private insurance plans, the program covers physician services, office visits for injury or illness, maternity care, preventative services, inpatient hospital services, emergency care, outpatient hospital services, behavioral health services, prescription drug services and other services with minimal out-of-pocket costs for the patient. The program will not deny any applicant coverage or benefits simply because of health status.
Most Michigan medical providers and pharmacies participate in HIP Michigan; however, Michigan residents may check online at HIPMichigan.com/Provider to confirm that their providers are in the HIP network. They may also call HIP Michigan Customer Service at 877-459-3113.
HIP is being recommended by the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP), the Michigan Organization for Nurse Executives (MONE) and the State of Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR). It is administered by Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan (PHPMM), which is an affiliate of Sparrow Health System and is a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective March 23, 2010.