I routinely get calls about families with children with autism
and other disabilities needing more therapy or to see specialists that their
insurance doesn’t cover. It could be
speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, etc.
At some point the conversation works its way around to if
their child had Medicaid it might help with some of the things the child needs
that the family cannot afford above and beyond insurance. Many families are surprised to learn there is
more than one way to qualify for Medicaid.
You have four ways you might be able to qualify for Medicaid if you have
a child with a disability that I know about.
The first way is to apply for Medicaid. This sounds strange but many times parents
are told by friends and professionals that they will not qualify when they
do. Medicaid takes strange things into
account when you apply. For instance
they take into consideration all those medical bill you are paying out of
pocket right now. My experience with
parents and Medicaid workers is the Medicaid worker will try to ask you about
things you might not of thought about or might not know about as best they can
if you explain your situation.
The second way is what in our state is called the Family
Opportunity Act. It might be called
something different in other states.
Louisiana has a program at the Medicaid office for families to be able
to ‘buy in’ to Medicaid if they have a child with a disability. There are other qualifications too. If the person who answers the phone does not
know about this specific program ask for a supervisor as this is a small
program. From what I understand from
other parents the fee is very nominal especially compared to what they are or
could be paying out of pocket.
The third way to get Medicaid is if your child can get
SSI. In our state and some other states part
of getting SSI is also getting the Medicaid card. Parents are told from the beginning that
income is a consideration and it is, but they should apply anyway. The child also has to have a severe enough
disability. Think about it like this. If
a child qualifies for even $5.00 of SSI they get a Medicaid card. The cash assistance may not be encouraging to
you but the Medicaid may be a big help.
The final way I know of to get a Medicaid card is though the
state’s Community and Family Support Services.
These services are at your area Human Service Authority if you are in
Louisiana. If you are in another state
ask at your state’s Office or Department of MR/DD. If
your child’s disability is severe enough your child could qualify for what is
commonly called a Waiver. One of the
services you get as part of the Waiver is a Medicaid card. The important part here is that if your child
qualifies for the Waiver it is regardless of your income.
I am sure there are other ways to qualify for a Medicaid
card. These are just the ones I know
about for a child with a disability.
Some of these include adults with disabilities. You have to ask though. Do you know any other ways to qualify for
Medicaid?
