Partnership on the Uninsured

The Partnership on the Uninsured was formed in the Spring of 2000 with the goal of ensuring that all Monroe County residents are continuously covered by an affordable health insurance plan and able to access appropriate health care services when needed. Currently the Partnership works to identify barriers to insurance coverage, research and identify strategies to reduce those barriers, take action/advocate for strategy implementation, educate the community on health care access and insurance coverage, and evaluate and report the effectiveness of our activities.

The six founding organizations of the Partnership are Excellus, BlueCross BlueShield of the Rochester Region; City of Rochester, Monroe County; Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency; Monroe Plan for Medical Care; and the Rochester Primary Care Network. The Partners contracted with Harris Interactive, Inc. to survey over 1300 households. In addition to the survey, the FLHSA held several community meetings and focus groups in the city of Rochester to understand the access problems experienced by populations at risk of experiencing barriers to obtaining health care and insurance. The survey revealed that 10% of Monroe County's 18-64 year-old population were without health insurance, well below New York State estimates of 18-21%. Cost of health insurance and inability to get insurance through employers were the greatest barriers to obtaining coverage. The community meeting underscored the need for safety net providers and insurers to reach out to at-risk populations.

We believe a fully insured community is one in which all community residents have coverage for the full range of their health care needs. Membership in the Partnership has expanded to include individuals and representatives of community based organizations, insurers, providers, government, and patient advocates and is compromised of: BALCONY - Rochester; Children's Institute; Empire Justice Center; Excellus, BlueCross BlueShield Rochester Region; Fidelis Care; Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency; Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council; Genesee Valley Health Partnership, Inc.; Monroe County Department of Public Health; Monroe County Medical Society; Monroe Plan for Medical Care; MVP Health Care; Rochester City School District Student Health Services; Rochester Primary Care Network; Rushville Health Center; St. Joseph's Neighborhood Center; S2AY Rural Health Network; and the University of Rochester Medical Center, Center for Community Health.