Judo participants need to have adequate insurance

It has come to my attention that there are several individuals within our group who do not have any medical insurance. The question they have asked me is “Does the USJA Insurance cover everyday medical needs?” The answer is no. The USJA insurance is a catastrophic loss for tournament play and practice. There are very high deductibles and the coverage is limited. I would suggest that you do not rely solely on this coverage. However, there are several options to insure that you and your family have coverage. If you are unemployed or your income falls below certain limits, these programs will assist you. I will attempt to list some options and contacts. Please review these options and if the information is helpful, share with me your experience so I may share it with others in similar situations. 1. I would suggest that you first go online to Compass Applications. It can be found at https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/compass/PGM/ASP/SC001.asp COMPASS stands for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services. Here is how COMPASS can help you. a. The self-screening questionnaire can tell you which social services the members of the household may be eligible to receive. b. The application lets you apply online for social services offered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. c. The renewal function allows you to provide the information necessary to determine continued eligibility of benefits when the end of your benefit period approaches. d. You can log into My COMPASS Account to view a summary of your benefit details. This option is only open to individuals receiving Medicaid, Food Stamps, Cash Assistance, Long Term Care, or Waiver benefits through the Department of Public Welfare. Coming soon, you will be able to view your CHIP and adult Basic benefit details in COMPASS. If you answer the questions in the screening questionnaire, COMPASS can tell you what services the household members may be eligible to receive. The information you give us in the questionnaire is strictly confidential. We do not keep this information. You do not have to fill out the self-screening questionnaire. You can go directly to the online application and apply for all of the services you choose. At this time you can screen and apply for healthcare coverage, food stamps, cash assistance, long-term care, some home and community based waiver services, and other social services. Or you may choose to first learn more about Pennsylvania's related social services or Federal benefits. 2. If you have a chronic illness you should look at the above website for forms for Medical Assistance for workers with special medical needs. Assistance is based on your income level and lack of coverage for long-term care. An example would be Crohnes Disease. 3. Most children are eligible for the CHIPS Program.