Regular medical care and, if appropriate, HIV-related medications are very important to help you stay healthy. Once you have been diagnosed with HIV, it is important to see a doctor who is familiar with treating HIV. It is also important to keep all of your medical appointments, get your labs done every few months and take your medications in the exact way that the doctor prescribes.
Below are answers to a few frequently asked questions about healthcare options for people who have been diagnosed as HIV positive, including information on Medicare / Medicaid and what it takes to qualify for those programs.
Q. I have private insurance. How do I find a provider?
A. Contact your insurance provider for a list of infectious disease specialists within your network.
Q. My private insurance is really expensive. Would it be better if I just cancelled my policy?
A. If you have private insurance coverage it is almost always better to keep your policy. There are programs that might be able to help you to pay the monthly premium and some of the co-insurance costs (i.e., co-payments, deductible). Click here for a link to that program information.
Q. If I use my insurance, will they tell my employer work/family member my status?
A. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPPA") prohibits insurance companies from sharing your health care information without your written consent. Click here for more details on protections through HIPPA. http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/index.html
Q. I just lost my job and the COBRA policy is too much for me to afford. What should I do?
A. There are programs that might be able to help you in pay your monthly COBRA ("Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act") premiums. Click here for a link to that program information.
Q. I don't have insurance. How do I get medical care?
A. There are many programs and resources in the State of Louisiana that could help someone who is HIV positive access medical care and medications. Please call 1-800-992-4379 or go to the "Live Chat" function on this website to get a referral to a doctor or a clinic that is close to where you live.
Medicare
Medicare is a federally maintained health insurance program for people age 65 and older, people under age 65 who are disabled, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.
Medicare coverage includes:
Medicare Part A - Hospital Insurance - inpatient care in hospitals, hospice care and some home health care.
Medicare Part B - Medical Insurance - doctors' services and outpatient care; some physical and occupational therapists services, and some home health care and some medical supplies when they are medically necessary.
Medicare Part D - Prescription Drug Coverage - A monthly premium is charged for this coverage that may help lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future.
To learn more about Medicare, go to Medicare.gov , the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare, which provides information on Medicare enrollment, benefits, and other helpful tools.
Louisiana Medicaid
Medicaid is a state-administered program available to eligible low-income individuals and families that helps provide access to medical care and treatment to get and stay healthy. Although each state sets its own Medicaid guidelines regarding eligibility and services, common eligibility requirements include; whether you are pregnant, disabled, blind, or aged; income and resources and U.S. citizenship.
Louisiana Medicaid provides medical coverage for:
Individuals age 65 and older
Blind individuals who have corrected vision no better than 20/200
Families with Children - individuals who are / or families with:
Ÿ a pregnant member, or
Ÿ a child under age 18 without the support of at least one parent, or
Ÿ a child under age 19, or
Ÿ a woman needing breast or cervical cancer treatment,
Disabled individuals who meet the Social Security Administration's (SSA) disability criteria with physical or mental impairments that will result in death or will prevent employment for 12 consecutive months
Also, if the individual or family meets the eligibility requirements of one or more Louisiana Medicaid programs, they are eligible for coverage.
Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration (SSA) are automatically enrolled in Medicaid.
Families receiving assistance from the Office of Family Support (OFS) through the FAMILY INDEPENDENCE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (FITAP) also receive Medicaid.
Individuals or families who do not receive assistance through SSI or FITAP may still qualify for Medicaid if they meet the eligibly criteria for one or more of the Louisiana Medicaid coverage groups listed above.
To learn more about Louisiana Medicaid www.medicaid.dhh.louisiana.gov
For general information about Medicare and Medicaid programs visit
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services at www.cms.hhs.gov
Local Healthcare Providers / Hospitals
LSU Healthcare Services
http://www.lsuhospitals.org/Hospitals/Hospitals.htm
LSU Healthcare Services - Shreveport
http://www.sh.lsuhsc.edu/index.html
HIV Outpatient Program (HOP) clinic, New Orleans
http://hopclinic.org/
E.A. Conway Medical Center
http://www.conway.lsuhsc.edu/
Huey P. Long Medical Center
http://www.lsuhsc.edu/hcsd/hpl/
NO AIDS Task Force Capitol City Healthcare Center
http://www.noaidstaskforce.org/
Capitol City Healthcare Center
http://www.ccfhc.org/
