Shortly thereafter he had two stents inserted and spent 4 days in intensive care. The bill came to $92,000.
Ms. Eddie went back to trying to find an affordable insurance plan for Mr. Eddie. They settled on one that would cost $700 a month, but at the last minute decided they couldn’t stand the financial burden and backed out. A few months later, she read about the PCIP in an article in the Providence Journal.
Ms. Eddie applied, and in October her husband got coverage for $519 a month through Blue Cross of Rhode Island. The state runs its own plan, which has a $1,000 deductible. Mr. Eddie’s premiums have risen this year, as he just turned 60, but they are still a relatively affordable $567, said Ms. Eddie.
His prescriptions, which include Plavix, simvastatin, and Crestor, are relatively affordable also, she said. The best part of the plan, according to Ms. Eddie, is the monthly call from a Blue Cross nurse coordinator to offer tips and to monitor his care. "It’s the first time we’ve had anything like that, so that’s a very nice component," said Ms. Eddie, who added that the "personal connection" made them feel as if they were getting better care.
"I’ve been very, very pleased with this program," said Ms. Eddie. She was able to resume coverage for herself through the retirement plan offered through her teaching position, and her son is receiving Medicaid benefits.
In the meantime, DHHS is trying to get the word out about the PCIP. Mr. Popper said that when people apply for disability under the Social Security program, they receive notification about the PCIP. Many insurance companies have also been advising patients who are rejected for coverage that the PCIP is a potential alternative, said Mr. Popper.
Finally, his office has been reaching out to hospitals and to physicians and provider organizations to educate them about the program, he said.