Indian Affairs FAQ
Who is eligible for medical services provided by
the Indian Health Service?
What if the health care that I need cant be provided
on my reservation?
I am Native American and want to become a doctor so that I might
help my people. Are there sources of financial help specifically for people
like me??
I am a Native American adult and I never finished
high school. I want to get my GED because I know it will help me get a better
job. Where do I start looking for such a program?
I want to go to college and I am a Native American.
Where do I turn for financial aid?
I am on the waiting list for a Housing Authority rental unit
on my reservation. I have a long wait ahead of me. Can the Senator get me
moved up on the list?
I need financial help from my tribe but they are denying me
assistance. Can the Senator ask the tribal council to reconsider?
My father left his six children a land allotment. Five of us
want to sell it but the sixth one doesnt. Can we sell it because the
majority of us are in favor of the sale?
Who is eligible for medical services provided by the
Indian Health Service?
IHS is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that
operates a comprehensive health delivery system for members of federally
recognized Indian tribes and their descendants. Most IHS funds are appropriated
for American Indians living on or near a reservation. There are more limited
IHS funds for Indians who live in urban areas. American Indians living off
the reservation and unable to travel to an IHS facility may want to apply
for the state medical assistance program if they do not have private insurance
and cannot otherwise afford care.
What if the health care that I need cant be provided
on my reservation?
IHS provides services directly and through tribally contracted and operated
health programs. IHS also purchases health services from more than 9,000
private providers. However, if IHS cannot provide the service on a reservation
or through one of its established contracts, it becomes the “payer
of last resort”. This requires patients to first exhaust all health
care resources available to them from such sources as private insurance,
Medicare, or Medicaid. If the patient does not have health insurance and
is not covered by Medicare, they should apply to the state Medicaid program.
If denied, IHS can then consider payment of the bill. Without the application
and denial, IHS generally cannot even consider payment.
I am Native American and want to become a doctor so that
I might help my people. Are there sources of financial help specifically for
people like me?
Yes. To insure that IHS has an adequate supply of trained medical
professionals, the agency has a loan repayment program that can help you out.
You must sign a contract to serve a designated period of time at an IHS facility.
The minimum period of participation is two years. Maximum payment to each
participant is $20,000 per year plus an additional 20 percent of the $20,000
for tax liability.
To find out more about the Indian
Health Service, visit their Web site.
I am a Native American adult and I never finished high
school. I want to get my GED because I know it will help me get a better job.
Where do I start looking for such a program?
On reservations, there is generally an Adult Education program that falls
under the Office of Indian Education Programs. OIEP contracts with a tribe
to administer it. If your tribe is not administering one, you should check
with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Education Line Office. You can find the
location and phone number of the one serving your reservation on the OIEP
Web site.
I want to go to college and I am a Native American. Where
do I turn for financial aid?
The Office of Indian Education Programs is the place to start. For Native
Americans with at least one-quarter Indian blood there are special Higher
Ed grants that you might be able to access. The grant application is available
from the education office of the Tribe in which you are affiliated or possess
membership. Other information and further help on searching for financial
aid can be found at the OIEP
Web site.
I am on the waiting list for a Housing Authority rental
unit on my reservation. I have a long wait ahead of me. Can the Senator
get me moved up on the list?
No, unfortunately I cannot ask your Housing Authority for special consideration
of one hopeful renter over someone else on the waiting list. That wouldnt
be fair to those who have been on the waiting list. However, if you feel
you have been unfairly passed over, I urge you to contact one of my staff
in North Dakota.
I need financial help from my tribe but they are denying
me assistance. Can the Senator ask the tribal council to reconsider?
While such decisions are totally in the jurisdiction of your tribal council,
my office may be able to suggest other possible sources of help for you.
My father left his six children a land allotment. Five
of us want to sell it but the sixth one doesnt. Can we sell it because
the majority of us are in favor of the sale?
Generally, the allotment can be advertised for sale as a divided
interest. However, divided interest
allotments oftentimes do not sell. Purchasers prefer to buy an unencumbered
allotment. For more information or help, check with the realty department
of the BIA office overseeing your allotment. In most cases, this is your
home reservation office but can be a BIA office of another reservation.
