A little-known state Medicaid program which helps recipients keep their health insurance coverage will soon be looking to enroll more participants.
The Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program pays health insurance premiums for qualifying Medicaid recipients who have high-cost medical conditions. In some cases, this may benefit qualifying Medicaid recipients that cannot continue to pay their health plan premiums due to job loss, medical leave or other reasons. This service helps certain high-cost recipients receive the necessary healthcare they need when it is cost-effective to the state.
“Given the current economic climate, it’s important that the Agency looks for ways to save money while still affording the neediest among us to receive life-saving health care services,” said Keith Thompson, director of the Agency’s Third Party Division which administers the HIPP program.
To bolster the Agency’s efforts, Alabama Medicaid contracted with Health Management Systems (HMS) to help identify and enroll additional Medicaid recipients who would benefit from enrollment in the HIPP program. During the planning stage, officials from the Agency and HMS met to discuss strategies on how to connect with ideal HIPP candidates. Promotional strategies include direct mail campaigns targeted toward individuals that fall within specific segments of the state’s Medicaid eligibility file, online resources such as a membership application, and partnerships with Medicaid caseworkers and others that can refer Medicaid recipients through their daily interaction with this group.
In order to qualify for the HIPP program, a person must be receiving Medicaid, be enrolled or have access to a group health insurance plan, and have a health insurance premium cost that is determined by the Agency to be cost-effective to the State. Once a person is deemed eligible for HIPP, the insurance will be treated as a third-party resource. Individuals in this program often include those with asthma, pregnant women, cancer and HIV patients, and low birth weight/pre-term infants, due to high cost of medical expenses.
According to Thompson, HIPP may provide family coverage. This occurs when the Agency pays for health insurance of non-Medicaid eligible family members if a non-Medicaid eligible family member must be enrolled in the health insurance plan in order to obtain coverage for the Medicaid eligible family members.
More information on the HIPP program, including how to apply, will be available at www.MyALHIPP.com . Interested parties may also call toll-free 1-855-MyALHIPP (1-855-692-5447).