WeAreTBI.org - The Social Support Network for People Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

Angela

I have the following in my journal, but I know this is an important topic.  Social Security can have you wait a couple years for Medicare, and SSI may not have Medicare at all.  To apply, this is usually a completely different office.  It's easier to get classified as "disabled" than Social Security.  You can also qualify if you have a child under 18, but be dropped under this one when the kid reaches 18.

Medicaid - The Government Medical Program

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidGenInfo/

This is the main site.

Sometimes I might refer to Medi-Cal.  California adds its money to the Medicaid money and therefore can call the program Medi-Cal (a combo of of the 2 names).  Some states will call the program something else, some call it Medicaid, and some don't offer it at all.  There is a wide variation and you will have to find out your state rules and names. Because it's a federal program, I thought all states offer it, but I'm finding different.

Medicaid is the government program for medical care    One would need this if they didn't have medical insurance or medicare.  Also, if the cost for medical care is too high for one to meet, then  use it.  I found a great description of Medicaid:

Medicaid is a medical assistance program jointly financed by state and federal governments for low income individuals and is embodied in 42 U.S.C. §1396 et seq (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/42/ch7schXIX.html).

It was first enacted in 1965 as an amendment to the Social Security Act of 1935. Today, Medicaid is a major social welfare program and is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/), formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration.

Among the services that Medicaid covers are: in-patient hospital services, out-patient hospital services, laboratory and x-ray services, skilled nursing home services, physicians' services, physical therapy, hospice care, and rehabilitative services. Patients are restricted when selecting who will take care of their needs by selecting from pre-approved physicians and other providers of medical care. Because physicians are not fully reimbursed for services provided to Medicaid patients, many of them limit the number of Medicaid patients they see.    (http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Medicaid)

Because eligibility requirements vary from state to state, you should apply.  There's no telling if you qualify.  Basically, if you are low income and disabled, you should apply.  Low income is the key.  Sometimes you can qualify with a higher income but there is a share of cost, or co-pay.  This might be worth it if you have medical expenses that exceed this (i.e. the month you pay your insurance premium).  

If you have savings or an inheritance then you should first consult a lawyer before applying. 

29 months ago