Browse By Policies & Programs

• Health Care

  Insurance

  Most insured Americans get their insurance through their place of employment or through a family member’s place of employment. However, many small businesses, retail establishments and other industries do not provide insurance for their employees. In Pennsylvania, all children under the age of 19 have access to health insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). However, adults who do not receive private insurance and who do not meet the income requirements for Medicaid often find themselves uninsured. Because the cost of medical care in the United States is prohibitively expensive, the uninsured are often forced to neglect treatable health problems and the cost of medical care or prescriptions can mean that families are unable to pay for other necessities, such as rent, utilities, and food.

   

  Medicaid

  Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Among the groups of people served by Medicaid are eligible low-income parents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. Being poor, or even very poor, does not necessarily qualify an individual for Medicaid.  Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for people with limited income in the US.

   

  Sick Leave

  Sick leave is an employee benefit in the form of paid leave which can be taken during periods of sickness, to attend doctor visits, or to care for family members. Not all employers give sick leave as a benefit, and because many lower-income jobs pay at an hourly rate, sick time is usually not compensated. Parents, and especially single parents and those whose children have medical problems, often find that they must lose pay or even a job because they have to stay home to take care of sick children and take them to appointments.

  Behavioral Health, Insurance, Medicaid, Sick Leave