• Regular check-ups and care when you're sick
• Prescription medications you can afford
• Lab, X-ray and hospital services at no cost
• Referrals to services and resources

When getting care through CarePartners, patients are able to get the following help and assistance:

• Intake coordinators will check if applicants qualify for CarePartners and help them understand their options for health care coverage, such as MaineCare, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits.
• Case managers work with patients to link them to community resources, provide health education and help them better understand the health care system.
• Pharmacy assistance technicians help patients access a large list of prescription medicines (drugs) either for free or for a co-payment of $10 to $25.
• Doctors, hospitals and other health care providers give a full range of health care services, including primary care, specialist care, all inpatient and outpatient services, and diagnostic testing to CarePartners enrollees.
• Primary care physicians (PCPs) and nurse practitioners typically agree to be a primary care provider for 10 patients at any one time. Specialists typically provide up to 20 referral visits a year for program enrollees. The cost of an office visit for a CarePartners patient is $10, paid to the provider. All other medical care is provided at no cost to the patient.

CarePartners enrollees get a membership card to get health care services from providers who are part of the program.

While the "average" CarePartners patient is a single female, age 43, with a household income of $16,000/year, enrollees are male and female, young and old, and come from all walks of life. CarePartners patients do tend to have much higher health care needs than the average population.

If you become a member of CarePartners you'll pay no more than $10 for each office visit. Prescription co-payment range from $10 to $25. Lab, X-ray and other hospital services are offered at no charge.

To be eligible for CarePartners, you:

• Are between 19 and 64 years old;
• You live in or have a primary care doctor in Cumberland, Knox, Lincoln, Waldo or York county; and
• Are not eligible for Medicaid or Medicare.

Additionally:

• You may be eligible if you're over age 65 and don't qualify for Medicare due to not working enough quarters during your lifetime.
• When applying, you cannot be eligible for health care insurance through government-sponsored programs, which include but are not limited to: MaineCare, Medicare and Veterans’ Benefits.
• Applicants will need to provide a tax return to show their most recent annual income (if they are required to file), as well as show proof of current wages and any current unearned income. The federal poverty guidelines are updated every year by the federal government, based on cost of living adjustments.