The importance of health insurance and medical care is well-known to everyone. Health insurance is necessary for individuals to maintain their health and to help cover the costs of medical bills. Statistics show that “one in five (21%) non-elderly adults without coverage said that they went without needed care in the past year because of cost compared to 4% of adults with private coverage and 7% of adults with public coverage” (Toldbert, Orgera, Singer, and Daico, 2019). Although health insurance is essential for every person, the health insurance field is not always easy to navigate. For example, many times an individual will encounter an out-of-network doctor that is not covered under their insurance, or they may have a large hospital bill that they are unable to pay. Since many different issues can arise while being insured, having someone to help navigate the waters of the health insurance field can be very beneficial.
The Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula, also known as the JCCRP, is a social service agency providing many different services throughout the community. They are now offering a service called MCCAP — Managed Care Consumer Assistance Program. The program’s goal is to help clients have an easier time when it comes to dealing with coverage issues. MCCAP is aimed to help New York City residents who are experiencing a loss/issue in coverage and assist them to remain covered and ensured.
The program was cut after the recession in 2009, leaving a gap in crucial services. The JCCRP leadership was on the forefront of advocating for renewing this program.
“We are so appreciative to the speaker of the NYC Council, Corey Johnson (D-3), and to our local Councilmember Donovan Richards (D-31) for restoring these services and investing in our healthcare,” exclaimed Moshe Brandsdorfer, executive director of the JCCRP. NYC awarded 12 organizations with this reinstated service under the leadership of Community Service Society.
MCCAP helps individuals with medical billing issues, loss of coverage, drug coverage issues, appeals and denials for Medicaid and Medicare, as well as appeals and grievances for Child Health Plus and the Essential Plan. Individuals will be able to meet with an educated case manager who can assess their situation and guide them in the right direction.
This program will enable an individual to acquire the tools necessary to navigate health insurance issues. Moshe Bransdorfer states, “This is a wonderful service that will help people remain insured and save money.” The MCCAP program will be able to help clients in an efficient and timely manner, and will lessen the burden that people experience while encountering a health insurance issue.
