Healthcare Cost Assistance
Access the care you need to thrive.
Benefit Summary
Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits help make individual health (medical) plans affordable for Oregon homecare and personal support workers who can’t get coverage through other means. Examples of other means include the Oregon Health Plan, another employer, or spousal coverage.
This benefit is available to eligible homecare and personal support workers who enroll in a Carewell-approved plan through a Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, or Military Connected health insurance. The Healthcare Cost Assistance benefit covers up to $8,000 of out-of-pocket medical expenses for claims covered by your 2026 approved Marketplace plan, Medicare, or Military Connected Benefits. It also covers 100% of your net monthly premiums for your individual approved Marketplace plan, or a portion of your Medicare premiums.
If you’re eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance, you receive a Benefit Convenience Card (a Mastercard credit card) to pay for your monthly premiums (unless you have Medicare or Military Connected Benefits) and covered out-of-pocket medical expenses. The card is mailed to you by Ameriflex, the Benefits Convenience Card administrator.
Information for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits for homecare and personal support workers
Important Things to Know
- This benefit pays your net monthly premium (your premium after tax credits have been applied) for a Carewell-approved individual plan purchased through the Marketplace or for a portion of your Medicare premiums. It also covers up to $8,000 in 2026 in out-of-pocket medical expenses for claims covered by your Carewell-approved individual Marketplace plan, by Medicare, or by your Military Connected health plan. Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits are not employer-sponsored or group coverage.
- To take advantage of this benefit, you need to enroll in a Carewell-approved plan on a Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare, VA Benefits, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE. Call us — 1-844-503-7348 — we’re here to help you through the process!
- In most cases, you need to wait until Open Enrollment to enroll in a Marketplace or TRICARE health plan. Open Enrollment on the federal Marketplace is generally between November 1 and December 15 for the following year. TRICARE Open Season is typically from early November to early December for the following year. There are some exceptions that may qualify you to enroll through a Special Enrollment Period. See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
Eligibility
To find out your eligibility instantly, answer a few questions on the eligibility questionnaire.
Please read the eligibility requirements below carefully.
Eligibility Requirements
You are likely eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits if you:
You worked at least 40 eligible working hours* for 2 months in a row. Once you meet this requirement, there is a 1-month waiting period after you turn in your timesheets and/or payroll vouchers. During this waiting period, the State, Acumen, or PPL reports your hours to Carewell SEIU 503.
Turn in your timesheets and/or payroll vouchers on time every pay period.
Have your name, gender, Social Security number, birth date, and current address on file with Carewell SEIU 503.
Have medical coverage through a Carewell-approved Marketplace plan, Medicare, VA Benefits, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE. See FAQs for more information.
These eligibility requirements are the same for the Dental, Vision + Hearing, and Employee Assistance Program (DVE) benefits.
* Eligible working hours
The number of eligible working hours you need to qualify for Carewell benefits are the work hours paid by Acumen, DHS, and/or PPL on behalf of your consumer.
Losing eligibility
You may lose eligibility for Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits if you have 2 months in a row with less than 40 hours of work. After those 2 months, you’ll have a waiting period of 1 more month before your benefits end, and your Benefit Convenience Card (BCC) is turned off. When you lose eligibility for the dental, vision, hearing and employee assistance program benefits, you may elect to continue these benefits by electing COBRA. You can regain eligibility for Carewell SEIU 503 benefits by meeting the requirements listed above.
Don’t throw away your BCC! If you become eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits again, you’ll be able to use your card.
For eligible workers with a Marketplace plan
Learn more about Healthcare Cost Assistance for eligible workers with a Carewell-approved individual health (medical) plans on the Health Insurance Marketplaces.
For eligible workers with Medicare
Learn more about Healthcare Cost Assistance for eligible workers covered by Medicare.
For eligible workers with Military Connected Benefits
Learn more about Healthcare Cost Assistance for eligible workers with VA benefits, CHAMPVA, or TRICARE health insurance.