Island Health Plan
The
Island Health Plan was created by the Dukes County Health Council in
2002, as an independent not-for-profit organization. It's
Mission
is access to affordable health care. The primary focus at this
time is the development of a community-based affordable and accessible
health insurance product for Martha’s Vineyard. The process has been
underway for over a year, but we are close. We expect to advertise and
begin marketing a product within a few months. Viewed as a model for
communities like ours, the plan will then be transported to the Cape
and Nantucket.
Reports
have been published describing the several steps we have followed to
bring affordable health insurance to the Island. They are available
on line. We first conducted a Feasibility
Study to determine if affordable health insurance for the Vineyard
was a possibility. Next, Phase II
was a series of surveys, interviews, analysis of demographic data, actuarial
studies, etc., that resulted in a Business
Plan.
And the results of surveys of physicians, employers,
insurance agents as part of the development of the insurance program
in Phase III
Report.
The Island Health
Plan will partner with the Boston-based Neighborhood
Health Plan in
the administration of this insurance product. NHP has 130,000 members
and has a proven record of success service to communities like ours,
including especially low-income populations.
More information about the
Island Health Plan in a Q&A format is available:
for Island
Residents
for Employers
for Providers
The Island Health Plan board of directors recently conducted its first
annual meeting, including the presentation of the Annual
Report.
Members of the Board are:
Peter Oberfest (chairman), Patricia Begley, Arthur Bingham, Patrick
Gregory, Joel Lamstein, Else Membreno, Sarah Isenberg, Robin Rowland,
Charles Soule, Len Stewart. Cynthia Mitchell, Director
The Island Health Plan office
is located in the Mansion House in Vineyard Haven.
The mailing address:
Island Health Plan
PO Box 1298
West Tisbury, MA 02575
Phone 508/693-5090
Fax
508/693-8396
email
cmitchell@vineyard.net
Please
watch this site for updates on our progress and the announcements of
when and how Vineyard residents can enroll.
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