The Health Rights Hotline can assist people who do not have health insurance coverage to learn about coverage options, understand how to resolve outstanding medical debt and identify low-cost health care resources.

Many uninsured people actually qualify for some type of government health insurance coverage such as Medi-Cal or county medically indigent coverage. For those who do not qualify for such programs, many community clinics provide medical care for free or on a sliding-scale fee, depending on income.

Consumer laws protect uninsured people with medical debt from illegal debt collection practices. Patients who have a hospital bill may qualify for hospital financial assistance. The Hotline can advise uninsured people about how to deal with other medical bills.

People who lose their employer-sponsored health insurance because they leave their jobs may have the right to continue that coverage for as long as a year and a half after they leave their jobs if they pay the premium themselves. This right to continued coverage is commonly called COBRA after the federal law that grants the right. When someone elects COBRA coverage they pay the portion of the premium they paid when they were employed as well as the portion the employer paid. Most former employees can also keep their coverage an additional year and a half through California’s COBRA rules, for a total of three years of coverage after employment ends.

People who have used all three years of COBRA and Cal-COBRA have a right to purchase a new individual insurance policy. Generally people who want to buy an individual policy can be denied because of previous health conditions. Once COBRA and CAL-COBRA are exhausted, the beneficiary has HIPPA rights, these rights say they cannot be denied an individual plan because of their preexisting condition. Whenever insurance coverage ends, the insured person must receive a certificate of creditable coverage that provides evidence of prior coverage. That certificate can be provided to a new insurer to demonstrate that coverage was continuous and no preexisting conditions should be excluded from the new coverage.

People who leave one job where they had employer health coverage and go directly to another job where they have employer health coverage cannot be denied health coverage of preexisting health conditions. If there is a large gap (in general more than 62 days) in between coverage under one employer and coverage under another, coverage for a preexisting condition can be denied for a period of time (generally, no more than six months). Whenever insurance coverage ends, the insured person must receive a certificate of creditable coverage that provides evidence of prior coverage. That certificate can be provided to a new insurer to demonstrate that coverage was continuous and no preexisting conditions should be excluded from the new coverage.

Resources for the Uninsured: Find a Clinic

Placer County
Placer County Community Clinics

El Dorado County
El Dorado County: Health Care Facilities, partial list

Sacramento County
Capitol Community Health Network – Find a Clinic

Yolo County
Communicare Health Centers

Other Resources

Health Consumer Alliance Fact Sheets – Medical Bills
What Can I Do if I Get a Medical Bill?
What Can I Do if I Get a Medical Bill? Tips for Fighting a Bill
Avoiding Getting Medical Bills: Tips You Should Know

Health Consumer Alliance Fact Sheets – Hospital Financial Assistance
What Can I Do if I Get a Hospital Bill?
Limitations on Hospital Billing and Collections

California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development – Search for Hospital Free and Discount Payment Policies
California Hospital Free and Discount Payment Programs

U.S. Department of Labor
Continuation of Coverage: COBRA
Portability of Health Coverage: HIPPA

California Department of Managed Health Care
Federal COBRA and Cal-COBRA
HIPPA and Conversion Coverage