489-CARE Referral and Information Line
The 489-CARE information and
referral line has helped underserved
people find medical services and
insurance information since 1993.
(Callers outside the metro area use the toll free
number, 1-866-489-4899.) The referral
line serves a critical and cost-effective role in
helping uninsured and underinsured Minnesotans
understand and obtain health services
and coverage that might otherwise seem out
of reach. It provides information on low-cost
and sliding-fee medical, dental and mental
health services available in callers’ own communities,
based on ZIP code.
People who use the line vary in age, ethnicity
and insurance status—although 65.6%
are uninsured. Some 61% of those who use
the line are women and 56 percent have
children. Callers come to 489-CARE from a
variety of sources, including referrals from
health care professionals, public agencies,
First Call for Help, schools, Head Start, the
Yellow Pages and word of mouth.
The Network was recently awarded
a major multi-grant from the Minnesota
Department of Human Services to continue
operating this service statewide to increase
access to health care among our community’s
uninsured and underinsured individuals and
families. And in 2008, the Network is working
to strengthen the referral service through
a new collaboration with Portico Healthnet,
a nonprofit organization that helps uninsured
people access health care and coverage for
which they are eligible.
If you need our 489-CARE brochures for your clinic, please let us know! We have these brochures in multiple languages for distribution. Please contact Alicia Howes, the 489-CARE program coordinator at: ahowes@porticohealthnet.org or 651-603-5116.
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