Are you having trouble paying for healthcare? Can’t afford your medicines? There is a new program at Waldo County General Hospital (WCGH) that can help.

CarePartners, a statewide initiative of MaineHealth, is a large group of doctors, hospitals and other healthcare providers who supply many of the services you need to keep yourself healthy. These services include regular checkups, prescription medications, lab and x-ray services, care when you are sick, and referrals to other services and resources.

If you become a member of CarePartners, you will pay no more than $10 for an office visit or a prescription co-pay and will receive many other services at no charge.

Keirsten Wyman

Among the eligibility requirements for CarePartners are:

• you are between the ages of 19 to 64;

• you do not have private insurance and are not eligible for Medicaid (MaineCare) or Medicare; and

• you have a monthly household income of less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level ($21,660 for a family of one; $36,620 for a family of three; and $59,060 for a family of six).

The goal of CarePartners is to provide preventative medical care and to keep people on their correct medications to keep them healthy and away from serious medical events, such as a health attack or stroke. Participants have a care manager who reviews their medical needs and verifies that they are receiving the care they need.

It takes time to become enrolled in CarePartners because you must first apply for and be turned down by MaineCare. However, Keirsten Wyman, who oversees the program at WCGH, can begin helping you immediately with getting access to your medications at no or low cost. And even if it is found that you don’t qualify for CarePartners, she can continue to help you with getting your medications and with looking for other resources in the community that might help you.

For more information about CarePartners or to make an appointment to fill out an application, call Keirsten at 930-2644.