This winter, about 100,000 households in the Commonwealth were protected from losing their heat, electricity and other utilities by the state utility shut-off protection laws, which prevents shut-off for households whose circumstances meet certain conditions. This protection ended on May 1, and people have begun getting shut-off notices. These notices are bad news, but CAN be used to request a MassHealth premium waiver or Commonwealth Care premium waiver.
A new pamphlet offers step-by-step guidance, just in time for taxes.
Nikki Riel from the Women's Health Network in Franklin County sent me contact info for specific places at MassHealth (click the link for a printable PDF), including the Estate Recovery and Appeals units and various premium-paying programs.
There's health care - and then there's health care for people with disabilities. At Stavros Center for Independent Living, we have long been aware of poor access at hospitals and clinics. Most people can visit their doctor's office and just do what they are told to do -- 'hop up on the table,' 'just lie still,' or 'step over here' -- and are able to get a full exam or a check-up. But it's not that easy for some of us.
I got an email today from Nicole at Ecu-Health Care in North Adams, in response to our news post yesterday.
The Access Project provides coaching on how to negotiate unaffordable medical bills.
This online tool identifies organizations helping with MassHealth, Commonwealth Choice and Commonwealth Care enrollment.
MassHealth Advocacy Guide, revised in September 2006, is available.
Two no-cost resources can help some MassHealth applicants verify their US citizenship and identity.
