Hispanic Health Insurance Project

Excellus BlueCross BlueSheild

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield partnered with key community leaders to improve access to medical care for Hispanics in the region. The partnership with Ibero-American Action League was created to enroll eligible, uninsured Hispanics in public or private health insurance programs if they are not currently under a doctor's care, identify and break down barriers to insurance and facilitate communication with the Hispanic community.

Program Elements

• Excellus BCBS and partner organizations contributed $500,000 and in-kind support to the Ibero-American Action League to address these challenges.
  
  
• League workers were educated about existing public and private health insurance products and met with individuals, small businesses and com­munity agencies to help them learn more about insurance coverage options available to them.
  
  
• Hispanics not currently receiving medical care were enrolled in one of the Rochester Primary Care Network's affiliated centers.
  
  
• Excellus BCBS created a provider directory of Spanish-speaking physicians and health centers with Spanish-speaking staff.
  
  
• Excellus BCBS developed a Spanish-language Web site and Spanish-speak­ing customer service team, and produced important disease management information in Spanish.

Program Results

• More than 900 individuals have been enrolled in public insurance pro­grams, and an additional 500 individuals have been enrolled in one of the region's primary care sites.
  
  
• According to studies by the Institute of Medicine, a large number of unin­sured people can affect the availability of medical care for everyone in that community. The Hispanic Health Insurance Project has had a ripple effect throughout the region's health system.

Contact

Mary Lane, Director of SafetyNet and State Government Programs, 585-238-4275, mary.lane@excellus.com