As the song goes, “the times, they are a changin’ ” and that is certainly true at Alliance! About 40% of our patients are now eligible to get affordable insurance through the new health insurance marketplace, which opened October 1^st. Their lives will change as they gain insurance that covers doctor visits, preventive care, emergency rooms visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and more. At Alliance, we have always been about change in order to efficiently and effectively address the myriad of issues and challenges that our patients face. We grew and changed locations. We saw the need for integrated comprehensive care and changed our model to include specialty clinics, pastoral counseling, and a community garden. Now, we are helping many of our patients make a change to leave Alliance.

To help our patients make this important change, our staff is educating patients about the health insurance marketplace, how to enroll, and affirming their continued care with new providers. We are providing computer access assisting patients to enroll at Alliance, and providing one-on-one appointments with enrollment experts. We have staff and volunteers who are trained to work collaboratively with the other safety net organizations to ensure that changes for patients go as smooth as possible.

Even with the benefit of access to insurance, some things will not change. There are still approximately 75,000 adults in Wake County that need our care. With out Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, these people do not qualify for Medicaid (not blind, aged or disabled) and are not eligible for the health insurance marketplace (those eligible are above 100% of the Federal Poverty Guideline). In other words, a family of four with an income below $23,550 per year will still be uninsured, and Alliance will still be here to help. Alliance was founded ten years ago to help fill our healthcare gap, and we continue to meet these needs TODAY.

As we help our patients make appropriate healthcare changes, and open our doors to meet new patients that need our care, Alliance needs your support now more than ever! We have always been blessed with passionate and caring supporters that give their time, talent and treasurers to help make our patients’ lives better. Our staff and volunteers work selfishly and with giving hearts to provide uncompromised care. We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you, and ask you to support our annual Love thy Neighbor campaign TODAY and in the years to come.

We are counting on you!