It is our mission to facilitate access to health care for all with a focus
on the needs of the uninsured. Interest-free loans reduce the burden of care costs by allowing
repayment of principal over time. The Health Alliance offers interest-free loans to members
for both dental and eye care and to Provider Members to assist with the acquisition of facilities,
equipment, and training.
Revolving Dental Loan Program (LD)
A current maximum of four interest-free dental loans of a maximum $500 are made available
to members for the purpose of paying for dental care; IHA Dental loans are not available for
cosmetic procedures. Dental loans are available to IHA members in good standing for three years or
more. Members should submit a request for a dental loan and a copy of a bill or estimated cost of
dental service from the service provider that reflects that the procedure is necessary and will
cost an amount equal to or in excess of the amount of loan requested. Members of the IHA Finance
Committee will review the application and determine whether to award the loan; if a loan is approved,
it is the member's responsibility to meet with a member of IHA's executive board to sign a loan
contract and receive a check for their loan. The IHA office manager will assist in scheduling
this meeting.
If a loan payment arrives more than ten days late, a late fee of $20 will be levied. If a
loan payment is up to three (3) months overdue, any grants that may be awarded to the member
through the Health Fund program are first applied towards repayment of the loan. If a loan
payment is more than three (3) months overdue, the member loses eligibility for grant awards
from IHA. In the event that an IHA member defaults on repayment of a dental loan, the total
number of dental revolving loans available to other members will reduce by one, until one of the
following circumstances is met: a) the loan in default is repaid, b) the IHA board of directors
approves assignment of discretionary funds to the dental revolving loan fund, or c) donations for
interest-free loan programs are received in an amount sufficient to finance an additional loan.
Priority in revolving loan award will be given to persons who have successfully repaid previous
IHA loans. Loans will not be given for cosmetic procedures.
Revolving Eye Care Loan Program (LE)
A current maximum of five interest-free eye care loans of a maximum $400 are made available
to members for the purpose of paying for eye care services of the member's choice. Eye care
loans are available to IHA members in good standing for three years or
more. Members should submit a request for an eye care loan and a copy of a bill or estimated cost of
service from the service provider that reflects that the procedure is necessary and will
cost an amount equal to or in excess of the amount of loan requested. Members of the IHA Finance
Committee will review the application and determine whether to award the loan; if a loan is approved,
it is the member's responsibility to meet with a member of IHA's executive board to sign a loan
contract and receive a check for their loan. The IHA office manager will assist in scheduling
this meeting.
If a loan payment arrives more than ten days late, a late fee of $20 will be levied. If a
loan payment is up to three months overdue, any grants that may be awarded to the member
through the Health Fund program are first applied towards repayment of the loan. If a loan
payment is more than three months overdue, the member loses eligibility for grant awards
from IHA. In the event that an IHA member defaults on repayment of an eye care loan, the total
number of revolving loans available to other members for eye care will reduce by one, until one of
the
following circumstances is met: a) the loan in default is repaid, b) the IHA board of directors
approves assignment of discretionary funds to the eye care revolving loan fund, or c) donations for
interest-free loan programs are received in an amount sufficient to finance an additional loan.
Priority in revolving loan award will be given to persons who have successfully repaid previous
IHA loans. Loans will not be given for cosmetic procedures.
Revolving Provider Loan Program (LP)
The Ithaca Health Alliance has established a revolving loan fund for health service providers
who have been members of the Ithaca Health Alliance for at least two full years, providing
discounts to fellow members and helping neighbors with limited access to healthcare services with
a wider variety of health choices. All IHA provider members must
be residents of New York State; for administrative purposes, preference for IHA provider loans
is given to providers whose principal workplace is within 30 miles radius of the City
of Ithaca, New York. Loans from the health Service Providers' Loan Fund are available for
facilities, equipment, and training pertinent to the provider's scope of practice. The Health
Alliance provides these loans interest-free. The maximum loan is $2,000, with a maximum
of four LP loans outstanding at any one time.
If a loan payment arrives more than 10 days late, a late fee of $50 will be levied. If a
loan payment is up to three months overdue, any grants that may be awarded to the member
through the Health Fund program are first applied towards repayment of the loan. If a loan
payment is more than three months overdue, the member loses eligibility for grant awards
from IHA. In the event that an IHA member defaults on repayment of a provider loan, the total
number of revolving loans available to other members will reduce by one, until one of the
following circumstances is met: a) the loan in default is repaid, b) the IHA board of directors
approves assignment of discretionary funds to the providers' revolving loan fund, or c) donations
for interest-free loan programs are received in an amount sufficient to finance an additional
loan.
Providers interested in receiving one of these loans should
print and submit a copy of the IHA provider loan application, which can be downloaded through
this link. As with all correspondence for IHA, the application may be sent to PO Box 362,
Ithaca, NY 14851.
