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Glossary of Terms

Affordable Care Act: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a federal law. ACA was passed to reform the U.S. health care system in 2010. The ACA was made to help more people get high-quality, affordable health coverage.

The passing of the ACA had a big impact in every state. In California, Covered California, a new health insurance marketplace, was created. Medi-Cal, California’s free public health coverage program, was expanded as well.

Application Assistor: A person trained and certified to enroll people who are eligible in Healthy San Francisco. HSF Application Assistors also help people apply for other programs, such as Medi-Cal.

Covered California: Covered California is the marketplace that helps Californians get accessible, high-quality health coverage.

Federal Poverty Level: A measure of income level issued every year by the Department of Health and Human Services. Your eligibility for certain programs and benefits is based on the Federal Poverty Level.

Health Access Program: A program designed to make health care services accessible and affordable for people who do not have health coverage. A health access program is not a health insurance product. Depending on the health access program, these programs can provide services such as:

  • Primary care
  • Preventive care
  • Prescription drugs
  • Specialty care

Certain restrictions apply depending on the service and the program.

Health Care Reform: (also known as Affordable Care Act) “Obamacare”, officially known as the National Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was passed in 2010. The Act gave states frameworks, rules, and guidelines to follow. The goal was to give more people access to high-quality, affordable insurance and health care.

Health Insurance: A contract that requires your health insurer to pay some, or all, of your health care costs in exchange for a fee.

Healthy San Francisco (HSF): HSF is a health access coverage program created by the City and County of San Francisco. HSF helps make health care services accessible and affordable for eligible people who live in San Francisco and don’t have health insurance.

Healthy San Francisco Enrollment Site: Locations in San Francisco where an HSF participant can meet with Certified Application Assistors (CAA) to complete an HSF application. For most people, the enrollment site is the HSF Medical Home where they will get health care in the future.

ID Card: A card that you should always carry with you so that you can get health care. Your ID card lets your Medical Home know that you are enrolled in HSF.

Medi-Cal: California’s Medicaid health care program. This program provides free health care for children and adults with low income and resources. Your local County Welfare/Social Services Department is in charge of deciding who is eligible for Medi-Cal. You can get Medi-Cal if you meet the eligibility requirements.

Medical Home: The facility (in most cases, a clinic) where an HSF participant gets health care.

Participant Fees: Based on your income, you may need to pay a participant fee for HSF. Participant fees are paid four (4) times per year. The amount you pay depends on your household income, or your Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

Point of Service (POS) Fees: A fee you pay each time you get a medical service. You may need to pay a fee each time you visit the doctor, go to the emergency room, or have a prescription filled.

San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH): SFDPH is a government entity run by the City of San Francisco. SFDPH has two Divisions – the Community Health Network (CHN) and Population Health and Prevention. The CHN is the City’s health system and has locations throughout the City including:

  • San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center
  • Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center AND
  • More than 15 other primary care health centers

The Population Health and Prevention Division focuses on all of San Francisco’s communities. This division is made up of the Community Health and Safety Branch, Community Health Promotion and Prevention Branch, and the Community Health Services Branch.

SF City Option Program: This program is one way for SF employers to meet the Employer Spending Requirement of the San Francisco Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO). To learn more about the SF City Option Program, visit sfcityoption.org.