3-31-08 Letter Sent By FHIAP

Today, FHIAP mailed notices to about 3,800 FHIAP households (or about 4,300 people), informing adults in those families that their subsidies will end May 31, 2008. All have individual market subsidies. This is a big chunk of our individual adult population but only about a quarter of our entire FHIAP membership.
 
No group subsidies are affected. Although FHIAP will continue to subsidize children’s premiums, some families may want to move their children to Oregon Health Plan (OHP) if adults in that family are moving to OHP.

I’ve attached a copy of our final communications to FHIAP members explaining their choices. As you know by now, these members may transfer to Oregon Health Plan or pay the full premium to keep their adult coverage.
 
Parents who want to keep their children in FHIAP may need your help getting their children a separate account with the carrier. Children remaining in FHIAP must be in a plan that can be subsidized.
 
By the way: We are posting our members’ information packet on our Web site: www.fhiap.oregon.gov <http://www.fhiap.oregon.gov/>
 
If you have questions, our phone team is available at: 1-888-564-9669. We are working from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday in April.

Also, many of you are asking….

You don’t because it’s an income calculation that we did internally. Unfortunately, we can’t get that information to you. One agent asked if we could send a list of his affected FHIAP clients. Unfortunately, we are unable to do this because of privacy issues. This means you can only answer client questions as best you can once clients get their packet in the mail and contact you. Getting a packet is the only way FHIAP members will know if they are affected unless they call us.
 
However, your clients can sign the consent form that is in the packet of information we mailed them and mail it back to us. Or, if clients come to your office and call us, we can speak to both of you together.
 
Again, our thanks to all of you for your interest in FHIAP members and their transition.
--
Cheryl  Martinis
Family Health Insurance Assistance Program
Communications
503-378-3254
www.fhiap.oregon.gov
 

Nov. 29, 2007
 

FHIAP No Longer Accepting Applications

Because of new federal fund limitations, FHIAP is no longer able to accept individual OR group applications.
 
Additionally, group and individual applications that FHIAP has already received but have not reviewed or are in the process of reviewing will not be completed. We will record citizenship documents and return them promptly.  Once they are able to reapply, we will not ask them to resubmit these documents.
 
These people will be put back on a reservation list in the order we received their initial application request. We will notify them of this action by letter.
 
Why This is Happening
Over the past 5 years the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has allowed FHIAP to use State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) matching funds for our adult population.  Our new, three-year agreement with the federal government started Nov. 1.  As part of the agreement discussions, federal officials notified us on October 20th that we can no longer use SCHIP funds for adults. Regrettably a significant amount of our budget comes from these matching SCHIP funds.
 
However, CMS will allow us to use Medicaid matching funds for our FHIAP adult population.  Losing the ability to use SCHIP funds for adults means that there is a significant reduction in the amount of funds available for our adult population. The shift to Medicaid funding will create a significant budget shortfall that causes us to stop new enrollment into FHIAP.  
 
Lacking money to make up the shortfall and after negotiating with federal officials and conferring with state officials over the past 30 days, we must now take immediate action to minimize the number of current FHIAP members this affects.
 
Questions
 As most of you know, we have worked aggressively, with your help, to link uninsured Oregonians with subsidies that allow them to afford high-quality health insurance and access to health care.

We are deeply saddened by the action we must take to remain in budget compliance. While the use of federal funds has been discussed since the program’s inception in the late 1990s, the federal policy decision to immediately restrict use of SCHIP match to children only (without a phase-out period for existing state programs that include adults) was unexpected.

We don’t anticipate FHIAP openings through at least the end of this state budget cycle in mid-2009. We will notify you by e-mail of any further developments.

Other Resources for your clients

• Some clients, especially those with children, may qualify for Oregon Health Plan. Have them call OHP at 1-800-359-9517 for more information.
• There are safety net clinics throughout Oregon. Oregon Safenet helps Oregonians find clinics near them. The Safenet number is: 1-800-723-3638. We also provide links to Other health resources at: www.fhiap.oregon.gov <http://www.fhiap.oregon.gov/>

Meanwhile, please know that you may call either of us directly with additional questions. We greatly appreciate your commitment to our program and uninsured Oregonians.
 
 
Howard “Rocky” King
Administrator, Office of Private Health Partnerships  
503-378-5165

Mark I. Jungvirt
Marketing Manager
503-378-5461