Community Health Insurance? Leelanau Township's Ingenious Plan

by Heather Johnson Durocher

Like so many other Michigan communities, Leelanau Township has experienced its share of job losses – a hardship that has led to some residents going without health insurance.

This didn’t sit well with several community members who have spent the past couple of years researching ways to help their neighbors take care of their health in the tough economy. The group’s solution: Use grant money to ensure township residents can keep seeing their doctor.

“There was a small group in the community that hatched the idea,” says Joan Moore, administrative director of the 65-year-old Leelanau Township Community Foundation, which late last year awarded $15,000 to Leelanau Township to aid individuals without health insurance.

“I think it was a brilliant idea,” says Moore, citing Foundation board member Basil Antenucci with spearheading the effort. “I just think it’s going to be a wonderful benefit to many of our township residents who are uninsured. It’s a way they can at least see their doctor. I am sure there are many who put off seeing a doctor.”

The funding comes from the Foundation’s 2006-established Health & Wellness Fund and is funneled through Leelanau Township. The money had to go through a not-for-profit, Moore says.

The Township, in turn, works with Dr. Michael Ziter – the township’s sole physician – to provide health care for those who qualify. Uninsured residents fill out a simple form stating they live in the township and do not have insurance; then they are able to see Ziter for office visits and minor in-office surgeries.

Ziter accepts reduced rates for these patients, generally $50 and $75 depending upon the nature of the office visit. His office reports such visits – without using resident names – to the township, which reimburses his practice using the grant funding.

“It’s a very unique way of doing it. I don’t know if there’s another model like this anywhere else in the country,” Ziter says.

He says “several” residents have used the grant funding and are relieved to know such a program exists.

“These are people who otherwise would not come into the office,” he says. “These are people who have definite need, who are hard-working people who have lost their insurance because of job loss and find themselves tapped from every end. So health issues take a back burner.”

Ziter is pleased with community members reaching out to help, though he says he’s not surprised.

“The townspeople have always been very generous with their requests to help the clinic and help the people,” he says.

How many residents end up using the grant money will be examined as time goes on, with a full review of the model set to take place in one year, Moore says.

“We really weren’t sure how many uninsured would take advantage of it; word has to get out,” she says. “We did a lot of research and legwork to make this happen, and now we’re going to be following along to see where we stand.”

“We don’t know yet for sure what the new health care law will provide,” Moore adds, “so this is a good transitional program, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”