Healthcare Cost Assistance
Access the care you need to thrive.
Benefit Summary
Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits help make individual healthcare 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 have Medicare or who enroll in an approved plan through a Health Insurance Marketplace. The Healthcare Cost Assistance benefit covers up to $6,900 of out-of-pocket medical expenses for claims covered by Medicare or your approved Marketplace plan in 2023. It also covers 100% of your net monthly premiums for your individual Marketplace plan, or a portion of your Medicare premiums.
If you are eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance, you will receive a Benefit Convenience Card (a Mastercard debit card) to pay for your monthly premiums (unless you have Medicare) and covered out-of-pocket medical expenses. The card will come from Ameriflex (the Benefits Convenience Administrator).
Information for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits for support workers
Important Things to Know
- This benefit pays your net monthly premium (i.e., your premium after tax credits have been applied) for a qualifying individual plan purchased through the Marketplace or for Medicare. It also covers up to $6,900 in 2023 in out-of-pocket medical expenses for claims covered by your qualifying individual plan or by Medicare. Carewell SEIU 503 Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits are not employer-sponsored or group coverage.
- To take advantage of this benefit, you will need to enroll in an approved plan on a Health Insurance Marketplace or into Medicare. Call us — 1-844-503-7348 — we’re here to help walk you through the process!
- In most cases, you need to wait until Open Enrollment to enroll. Open Enrollment on the federal Marketplace is generally between November 1 and January 15 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.
Check Your 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 to be eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits if you:
Worked 40 or more hours a month of eligible working hours — also known as bargaining unit hours — for 2 months in a row. There is then a 1-month waiting period while your hours are reported to Carewell SEIU 503.
Turn in your timesheets and/or payroll vouchers on a regular basis.
Have your basic demographic information on file with Carewell SEIU 503. Click here to update your information now.
Have medical coverage through Medicare or through an approved Marketplace plan. See FAQs for more information.
Eligible hours
The number of eligible working hours you need to qualify for Carewell benefits are the work hours paid by Acumen, DHS, and/or eXPRS on behalf of your consumer.
Losing eligibility
If you go 2 months in a row without working any eligible working hours —or if zero (0) hours are reported, after a grace period of 1 month you will no longer be eligible for Healthcare Cost Assistance. To regain eligibility for Carewell SEIU 503 benefits, you must complete the steps above.
If you have questions about your eligibility for Healthcare Cost Assistance benefits, please call 1-844-503-7348.
For eligible workers with Medicare
Learn more about Healthcare Cost Assistance for eligible workers covered by Medicare.
For eligible workers with approved plans
Learn more about Healthcare Cost Assistance for eligible workers with approved individual health plans on the Health Insurance Marketplaces.