Access
Program
Information
• Assistance • Advocacy • Referral
Working to improve access to affordable
health care for residents of Martha's Vineyard.
What is
the Vineyard Health Care Access Program?
The Vineyard Health Care Access
Program helps people who live on Martha's Vineyard gain access to health
care services. We provide:
- Information and enrollment assistance and advocacy for public programs
such as MassHealth, the Children's Medical Security Plan and Prescription
Assistance Program.
- Access to primary medical care on the Island.
- Access to low-cost dental care
- Information about private health insurance options.
- Information and referral to health and human services.
About the
Vineyard Health Care Access Program
The Dukes County Health Council
created the Vineyard Health Care Access Program (VHCAP) in 1999 because
of the high number of medically uninsured people on the Island. People
who live on Martha's Vineyard are twice as likely as other Massachusetts
residents to not have medical insurance – including children. The
goal of VHCAP is to assist residents of Martha's Vineyard to obtain
affordable, high-quality health care.
The VHCAP is funded by the
County of Dukes County, the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance,
the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services via the Lighthouse Health Access Alliance,
the.Massachusetts Medical Society, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation
of Massachussetts.
Who does
the VHCAP serve?
The VHCAP assists all Island residents including those with no health
insurance, families with children, seniors, the disabled and low-income
people.
Our Services
We assist people in several different
ways:
- Provide information about health programs and health insurance
- Answer questions, discuss options and assist with applications and
related paperwork
- Contact programs, agencies and health care providers for you
Our services are offered
at our offices, by telephone or through a home visit. Portuguese- and
Spanish-speaking staff available
Public Programs
We can see if you qualify for the
following programs, and help you apply:
- MassHealth - primarily for children and their parents, long-term
unemployed adults and the disabled.
- Children's Medical Security Plan - for children who do not
qualify for MassHealth.
- Healthy Start - For pregnant women who do not qualify for
MassHealth
- The Insurance Partnership - for employers and employees of
small business and self-employed.
- Prescription Advantage - for senior citizens and the disable
- Free Pharmacy Programs - Prescription drugs available through
the anufacturers at minimal or no cost to people who qualify.
Reduced
Fee Plan
The reduced fee program (RFP) is a
VHCAP plan for Island residents who do not qualify for public programs
and are uninsured or underinsured. If you are accepted into the RFP,
you are assigned to a primary care physician who will see you for a
fee of $15 or $20, depending on your income.
Most Island primary care physicians
are participating, as are many specialists. We work hand-in-hand with
Martha's Vineyard Hospital's Free Care Program to ensure continuity
of care for RFP members.
Other Services
We work closely with health and human
service agencies on the Vineyard and off-Island and can assist you in
locating needed services. Examples include the Martha's Vineyard Hospital
Free Care Program, the Lion's Club Vision Care Program, Martha's Vineyard
Community Services, Elderly Services and SHINE, the Martha's Vineyard
Community Dental Center, and the Vineyard Nursing Association's Women's
Health Network.
We also provide basic information about choices in private health insurance
and how to purchase it.
How to find the VHCAP
508-696-0020
If we are unable to answer the phone, please leave a message and
we will return your call. Appointments are recommended.
Office Location:
114 New York Ave., Oak Bluffs
E-mail: info@vineyardhealthaccess.org
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1298, West Tisbury, MA 02575
