It is with deep sadness that we announce the closing of our In Person Counselor Program, which helped countless uninsured people in McHenry County obtain insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace or the expanded Public Aid. Funding for this program came through the state, via our County Health Department who coordinated efforts at 8 local non profit organizations to assist people with the process of getting health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. On Tuesday, October 21, the McHenry County Board voted 10-10 against accepting this grant from the state. We immediately had to lay off our trained Navigator, and will no longer be able to assist people through this complex process. Loss of this program is a blow to those we are privileged to serve, and many will face an unforgiving amount of medical debt if they become ill or are in accident. One of our patients was faced with an uncertain future when his lung x-ray indicated a mass. We could not get him a lung biopsy, necessary for definitive diagnosis, because he had no insurance. Thanks to our In Person Navigator, she was able to expedite his Public Aid (which had previously been turned down). He was then able to get his biopsy and enter treatment for lung cancer. Without that Public Aid card, there would be no diagnostic nor treatment options available. Thank you for your continued support of our services. Without assistance to get people private insurance or Public Aid, we expect the number of patients we serve to increase, and many more to use the emergency room as their primary care clinic wasting precious local health resources. For more information on the vote, go to the Northwest Heralds coverage of this issue at
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:42:53 +0000
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