Norton Healthcare makes healthcare more accessible with financial program assistance
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Norton Healthcare is making their care a lot more accessible to families in the Commonwealth.
“It’s a stress relief.”
They have announced that more individuals will be eligible for financial assistance.
Families can now qualify if their household income is equal to or less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines…for example, if household income is $105,000 or less, they are eligible for help.
“We’ve recognized there are so many barriers to access and so many barriers to getting care, that in many cases people just stop trying,” said Russell F. Fox who works in the Norton Healthcare Finance Department.
Thomas Williams has been a cabinet maker for 35 years, but his hands started to bother him and kept him from working.
“April of last year my body was aching and paining and it was just this constant, I wouldn’t be able to sleep, my hands were burning and would swell up,” said Williams.
He went to Norton’s for treatment but didn’t qualify for Medicaid or other health insurance. He was paying $200 out of pocket for every session.
“We were taking from retirement funds to maxed out credit cards and all that stuff trying to make ends meet because I wasn’t covered by medical insurance,” said Williams.
He had ceased treatment, but with these new guidelines, he qualifies for financial assistance and will resume appointments.
“If I could I would jump for joy,” said Williams.
They hope more people can now get the healthcare that they need.
“We believe healthcare is a right, it’s not a privilege. And this step today takes us down that spectrum to say let’s get as many people prepared ahead of time,” said Fox.
