St. Joseph Family Care was born out of the need for affordable and accessible health care for underinsured and uninsured families in the Diocese of Charleston. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are more than half a million people in the state without adequate health insurance coverage. The program is designed to serve families most in need at a fraction of the cost of traditional health insurance.

“It will offer medical services for the most vulnerable and at risk for very low annual fees plus it offers full services for Spanish speakers,” according to Mollie Kay, coordinator for Catholic Charities.

Telehealth visits are skyrocketing in popularity. One report from McKinsey & Company showed an initial spike in April 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic began to spread but revealed a continuous trend throughout the rest of 2020 and 2021, more than 38 times the number of telehealth visits than pre-COVID levels. Catholic Charities has adapted to the trend and is looking to use available technology to serve people in the state who need it most.

The service also includes assistance with legal advice, financial wellness and literacy and food security. In the spirit of caring for the most vulnerable as a centerpiece to the pro-life issue, the program seeks to serve the whole person and positively address as many needs as possible.

How it works

St. Joseph Family Care is easy to sign up for, only requiring a name, birthdate, phone number and email. There is no government identification required and families can register at their parish, which will collect the annual fee and send it to Catholic Charities.

The service costs $60 per year for an entire family, giving them access to telehealth visits with certified, bilingual medical doctors, immigration and legal guidance, virtual meetings with certified financial planners and food boxes delivered right to their homes.

The gateway to this care — plus financial advice, food boxes, legal guidance and holistic health practices — is through Jiseki Health and can be accessed via text, phone and video chat.

If a family member needs medical care, they can quickly use the texting service provided and connect to the concierge, where they will be directed to appropriate services related to health and primary care. For behavioral and mental health concerns, the same texting service is available, and professionals are available for a co-pay 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone said the program is a remarkable way to increase access to professional and medical services.

“If you are without standard health care access, I encourage you to sign up to start receiving these benefits for your family,” he said.

By intercepting families before a major health care crisis, St. Joseph Family Care seeks to improve outcomes and reduce the cost of care by avoiding unnecessary health care expenses. The bilingual concierges are in place to direct families to the quickest and most affordable options to receive care in their local communities.

Anyone can sign up at www.stjosephcare.org.