Utah Department of Health officials announced this week they’re opening enrollment for a state health insurance program called the Primary Care Network to adults without children. It’s the first time that specific coverage has been available since late 2015.
The Primary Care Network, or PCN, is a health plan that provides very basic health services for Utahns - things like primary care visits, immunizations, and limited drug prescriptions. It doesn’t cover hospital stays or specialty care.
Kolbi Young is a public information officer with the Utah Department of Health.
"So it’s a somewhat limited preventative care plan for individuals who have no other options," Young says.
Previously the Department of Health was required to enroll a higher number of parents in the program than people without kids. After monitoring both groups they found they could enroll more people.
"Individuals that do not have dependent children living at home are now able to apply for the program," Young says.
To be eligible, individuals have to make less than 100 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s about $12,000 per year for one person. They also have to be currently uninsured to get coverage through the Primary Care Network, so it’s not a program people could switch to from Molina Healthcare if they lose coverage when Molina exits Utah’s insurance marketplace at the end of the year.
The enrollment period for Primary Care Network coverage started August 14th and will continue for the next two weeks.