NU Online News Service, Oct. 14, 3:13 p.m. – The California Endowment, Los Angeles, and The California HealthCare Foundation, two California health foundations, are forming the Frequent Users of Health Services Initiative, a five-year, $10 million program to help uninsured California residents who suffer from chronic illnesses.
Although many uninsured people with chronic illnesses are homeless people and other people who have no direct connection with the private health insurance system, private health insurers must pay close attention to them, because private health insurance programs end up absorbing some of the costs associated with treating the uninsured, foundation officials say.
Finding better ways to help uninsured people with chronic illnesses could make them healthier and lower health care costs for everyone, according to the foundation officials.