SC Thrive

Navigating the assistance-qualification process

Many of the people AccessHealth connects to medical care face a host of other challenges, in addition to the fact they do not have health insurance. While they might not qualify for full Medicaid benefits, many do qualify for other forms of assistance they are unaware of or are not currently receiving. Some people assume they will not qualify and therefore have never tried to get assistance. Other people encounter trouble navigating the bureaucratic maze of agencies and qualification processes and simply give up.

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Because AccessHealth takes a comprehensive case management approach to helping people improve their health and stabilize their lives, we help people with theses processes. AccessHealth care navigators help their clients discover if they are eligible for food stamps, Medicaid, or financial assistance for continuing their education, among other forms of assistance. We, then, help clients navigate the application process for each of those services.

AccessHealth utilizes the state of South Carolina’s Thrive Hub — a digital platform that is connected to the state and federal agencies that determine eligibility for various services. As a certified SC Thrive site, AccessHealth has trained care navigators who are certified in the use of the Thrive Hub, which is overseen by SC Thrive.

During a new client’s first visit to the AccessHealth office, a care navigator will verify their income and use other basic information to create a profile in the Thrive Hub system and determine the client's initial eligibility for assistance. If this “quick check” — which usually takes 20-30 minutes to complete — shows the client qualifies for food stamps or Medicaid, the AccessHealth care navigator will help them complete the full qualification process. For SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), the next steps include a phone interview with a SNAP counselor. Clients who qualify usually start receiving benefits within one month.

The Thrive Hub can also be utilized to complete the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) and to register to vote.

The help that people receive from these programs is essential to improving their health and is a key piece of AccessHealth’s comprehensive complex case management approach. Contact us to learn more.