Chronic and Acute Medical Assistance (CAMA) - a state-funded medical assistance program that pays for a very limited amount of health care services for very low income adults and children who do not qualify for Medicaid. Covered services include limited in-patient hospital stays and prescription drugs for individuals with certain chronic illnesses. The following are requirements one must meet to qualify for CAMA:

• You must be a United States citizen or legal alien
• You must be a resident of the state of Alaska
• You must be between the ages of 18 and 65
• Your household income must be: $300 a month or less for one person, 400 a month or less for two people, and then add $100 for each additional person
• You must have no other resources you can use to pay your medical bills, like:  medical or hospital insurance that pays 100% including insurance payments for accidents; benefits from programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Veteran's  Administration; or help from a free health clinic. Also, you must have less than $500 in personal resources or property that could be used to pay medical bills. Personal resources include cash, bank/credit union accounts, or personal property. You or your loved one’s home, income producing property, property that is used for employment (boat, fishing gear), vehicles, or fishing permits are not counted.

CAMA must be applied for prior to receiving medical care unless emergency treatment is needed. If you or a loved one had emergency treatment at a hospital or clinic, CAMA must be applied for within 30 days of that emergency. Contact the Division of Public Assistance for an interview. Bring a doctor's statement that you or your loved one needs care, papers that show income such as tax forms, pay stubs, fish tickets, or a letter from the Internal Revenue Service saying that you do not pay taxes, and papers that show any other resources, like saving accounts. The application will be reviewed and a notice will be sent to you within 30 days. If you do not qualify, you may ask for a hearing to review your application.

Normally, CAMA eligibility is determined for only one month at a time. Before eligibility is determined, a DPA caseworker may have to make sure that a healthcare provider has documented that pending treatment is medically necessary and that you or your loved one have not already used the minimum days of coverage available. You must show proof of this care to the hospital, doctor, or pharmacist at the time of service. Your provider will either take the card, photocopy the card, or just write down your CAMA number on the bill. Your provider will send the bill directly to CAMA for payment. You or your loved one should not pay your provider for services received because CAMA cannot pay you back. For further information, contact CAMA at: 888-804-6330 or 269-5777 (in Anchorage).

General Relief Assistance (GRA) - program is designed to meet the immediate, basic needs of Alaskans facing extreme financial crisis, such as shelter, utilities, clothing, transportation and food. Contact them at 907-465-3355 for more information. 

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) - provides temporary cash assistance to families in need. Also offers subsidized child care and financial assistance through paying childcare so the caregiver can continue working. For more information, contact: 907-465-3355.