Maine-based non-profit health insurer Community Health Options is the new administrator for CarePartners, MaineHealth’s program providing free or low-cost health care for low-income, uninsured adults. The collaboration ensures members will continue to have access to affordable, high-quality care.

MaineHealth launched CarePartners in 2001 with the mission of improving the health and well-being of adults in Maine who cannot afford private health insurance and do not qualify for public health care coverage programs. Members receive primary care services and access to specialists for a $10 co-pay, prescriptions for $10 - $25 and no-cost lab, X-ray and hospital services. CarePartners case managers also work with members to link them to community resources that can further improve their health and help them better understand the health care system.

CarePartners is able to offer these benefits thanks to the generosity of providers and hospitals who donate services, pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs and its third-party administrator, Community Health Options.

“CarePartners is a community effort that exemplifies the MaineHealth vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” said MaineHealth CEO, Dr. Andy Mueller. “We appreciate Community Health Options for sharing our vision and helping our patients maintain access to affordable health care.”

Community Health Options took over administration of CarePartners Sept. 3. The administrator provides enrollment cards that work similarly to health insurance cards. The cards reduce the stigma of being uninsured for members and give them access to health care services and certain prescription medications. The cards also allow Community Health Options to process provider claims and track data on the services members use. Since its inception more than a decade ago, the non-profit insurer has collaborated with MaineHealth as part of its mission to  “partner locally with members, businesses and health professionals to provide affordable, high-quality benefits that promote health and well-being.”

Said Kevin Lewis, president and CEO of Community Health Options, “Administering this vital program is a key component in our mission to make sure Maine’s healthcare system works for everyone. By helping to facilitate access to high quality health care across the state, we’re proud to partner with MaineHealth to improve the health of all of our fellow Mainers.

Since its inception, CarePartners has enrolled more than 20,000 members from ten counties in Maine and New Hampshire. To learn more, visit the CarePartners website.