Beth

Beth called United Way 211 on behalf of her mother, who recently came to the United States as a refugee. Upon arriving, the woman had no income and no health insurance, but multiple medications that Beth and her husband had been struggling to pay for. A 211 Specialist connected her to the MedRefer program – a Cuyahoga County-funded service that helps the community access low-cost prescriptions.

The specialist talked with Beth about her mother’s medications and provided information about several discount programs, which greatly reduced the out-of-pocket prescription costs. During the discussion, the specialist learned that Beth and her husband were so overwhelmed by their mother’s arrival and health situation that they were unable to research information about long-term residency or government support. Once the specialist learned this, she connected Beth with local immigration support, advocacy, and resettlement services.