Information on GAMP Insurance

GAMP is an acronym for General Assistance Medical Program, which was developed as a way to offer medical assistance to the uninsured of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. GAMP was launched through a partnership agreement for funding between Milwaukee County and the State of Wisconsin.

History

• The GAMP insurance program was developed during 1995 in response to the planned closure of the Milwaukee County-owned Doyne Hospital. According to Communities Joined in Action, the Doyne Hospital's emergency room was Milwaukee County's primary care provider for the uninsured of the county. The Wisconsin Legislative Bureau explains that GAMP was introduced in 1996 after the Doyne Hospital was closed in December 1995.

Eligibility

• Wisconsin's Commonwealth Fund explains that GAMP is available to adults who are not eligible for other forms of public assistance programs such as Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program and who are not covered by any form of private medical insurance. Communities Joined in Action describes a number of eligibility requirements in 2010, including membership of a family earning no more than $902 per month. To apply for GAMP insurance, a person must prove he has been a resident of Milwaukee County for more than 60 days.

Coverage

• Around 24,000 residents of Milwaukee County were eligible for GAMP assistance in 2003, according to the Commonwealth Fund, with between 10,000 and 12,000 enrolled in the program at any one time. GAMP offers those covered increased access to a variety of forms of health care, while emphasizing the use of community-based medical clinics. Communities Joined in Action cites how one clinic opened an after-hours program through GAMP funding, which increased its accessibility by 38 percent. Services include primary care, specialty care, lab testing and inpatient treatments.

Funding

• Communities Joined in Action explains that GAMP is funded through Milwaukee County and at the state and federal levels. State funding applies to direct health care for individuals, while Milwaukee County funding offers the uninsured both primary and secondary health care alongside community education programs. In the 2000, GAMP received $16.2 million from the County of Milwaukee and $20.6 million more from the state and federal levels.

Differences

• According to the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau, GAMP differs from Milwaukee County's previous health coverage for the uninsured by offering assistance for a six-month period instead of a single visit to the emergency room.