Medicaid Question

Hi again! I work at a clinic that deals with Medicaid and I just spoke with a co-worker about this. If your income is below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, you ARE eligible for "Pregnancy Medicaid." There is a difference in regular Medicaid and Pregnancy Medicaid by the way. Also, if you dont qualify for P. Medicaid there is another program through Medicaid called Chips Para-natal. The income is higher for this one (200% below federal poverty guidlines). I will talk with my co-worker later today when she isnt busy and get more details. I really hope this helps!! :)

I've done medicaid here in texas for both pregnancies (one was a miscarriage). What you need is to go to the office and pick up an application form. You do not have to wait in line just to get the form. There should be a stack by the window and just make sure it's the right form because the medicaid office does a lot of different helps (like food stamps, etc). Yes, it is a process, but the form will tell you what to bring. According to the website, they've streamlined the process, so it may be a little different than last year when I did it. You can set up an appointment by phone now, I think. You'll need you and your husband's pay stubs and copies of id's and maybe a bill or two. But you'll turn that in with the paperwork (to do that, you might have to wait in line). You can avoid lines by going at non-busy times. You can also call the information or check the website if not sure. (http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/Medicaid/mc/proj/preg/preg.html). It's not as bad as you think! Just fill out the application. That will get the ball rolling!

I have been on medicaid before and now I have to do it again. First you have to fill out the paperwork and get an appointment. They can mail you the form or you can pick it up. You have to take ID (birth certificate or something like that it you we not born in texas), proof of residence, and proof of income. It's a real headache. I went with my 2 and 4 year olds. But it is worth it if you get it. I wam waiting on my appointment in the mail after spending a couple of hours in the office last monday.

You need to be SURE to tell them that you do NOT have insurance and that you will not be able to receive proper medical care because of this. Be sure to stress this to them. I was on pregnancy medicaid just a few years ago and was denied the first time. But I called back and told them that I would not be able to receive prenatal care and was accepted. Being "Pregnancy Medicaid" you are covered for the length of your pregnancy and through the end of the month after your 6th week. There are no chances for extensions. You would have to apply for regular medicaid and the financial requirements are different.

I do not work for them, but I have used them as a last resort with my last pregnancy. I don't mean to contradict the other reply from the woman that worked for them years ago.

That is the only suggestion I have other than care at the county hospital like she suggested.

Hi,

You need to go down to DHS, and pick up paperwork, take it home, fill it out, you can take it back or mail it in, and they will mail you an appointment.

Take everything that is financial with you, Lease agreement, electric bill, phone bills, gas bill. Yours and your husbands last few check stubs. Kids Birth certificates, Social Security numbers for all.
Any child care expenses. Are you helping an elderly parent, or do they live with you, any and all expenses that you pay out. Of course the more you pay out the less money they see as income. Bank accounts, car payments, insurance, ect.

Your husbands health policy, especially the part that it excludes pregnancy.

I don't know how your husband gets paid, but we had too much income to qualify one month and had to come back the next month, when the income was lower. I'm saying that if you know that your income is going down, because of some reason, wait till then, to apply, if you can.

It all depends on you income, and expenses.

And, of course I would pray about it and ask God for strength. wisdom, and courage. And that he send his Angels ahead of you and prepare the DHS workers for your visit.

Good Luck,

P.

No, it is not that simple. Pregnancy does not automatically qualify you for medicaid in Texas. The state would be broke if it did that. It will take a lot of effort to get medicaid and keep it. They are not joking when they say your benefits will end if you don't return a form, etc.

You need to look up the Texas Department of Human Services online and see what the application process is and go from there. You will have to prove your income, and it will have to be pretty low. The limits are pretty low - but I haven't worked there in years, so I am not aware of any new "high-tech" application processes they may have now. When I worked there, you did have to plan on staying there all day. However, you are asking for the taxpayers to pay for your medical expenses, so it's hard to say what is too much for them to ask of you.

The other idea for you would be to check out the Health Center for Women at JPS. It's a county facility, so they will care for you regardless of your ability to pay. You can get classified, where they will assign you a "copay" amount, based on your income. Their limits are much higher than medicaid. There is probably someone that can classify you at the Health Center for Women - it's located across the street from the hospital. Some people will tell you not to go there, but if you look at the quality of their medical staff and the new renovations they have done to the maternity department, you might be surprised. They also have a great NICU if anything goes wrong as well as every specialist imagineable.

Good luck!

Hey A. it's C.!!!! Get on Yahoo and send me a message and I can answer some of those questions for you!!! Talk to ya soon!!!!

~C.