Some parents rely upon Medicaid to get medical care for their children.
Medicaid is a form of government-sponsored health insurance for those who cannot afford their own medical care. Introduced in 1965 as part of the Social Security Act, Medicaid was a part of President Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" program. Administration of the program falls under the jurisdiction of each state, but the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, establishes guidelines and regulations.
Income Guidelines
Medicaid covers people in a variety of situations. At the heart of its various regulations are income guidelines that establish the limits of who can qualify and who cannot. This does not mean that you can automatically get Medicaid if you are poor; it simply means that certain people who meet other requirements must fall within the income guidelines also. Guidelines consider the size of the family and your monthly or yearly income. If you fall within the category of one of the "eligible groups," you can qualify for Medicaid even if you make up to 250 percent above the established federal poverty line. The amount of aid for which you qualify depends on how much you make.
Eligible Groups
The government limits Medicaid eligibility to certain groups within the poverty guidelines. Medicaid covers many people. Pregnant women, for example, can qualify for Medicaid if they fall within the federal poverty limit guidelines. Those who are disabled, over the age of 65 and needy, children and teenagers can all qualify to receive Medicaid benefits. You must also be a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant to qualify. Under federal law, the states must cover these groups.
Groups with Optional Eligibility
Since states administer Medicaid, they have the option to include or exclude certain groups from eligibility. Groups with optional eligibility include those who already receive state-issued income supplements and those who are disabled, blind or elderly that fall below the poverty guidelines, but do not qualify for mandatory coverage. Other covered individuals can include people in institutions, persons infected with tuberculosis, and infants and pregnant women who have incomes below 185 percent of the poverty level, but not covered by the mandatory coverage rules.
Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act
Along with the traditional medical services offered by Medicaid, the government introduced additional services in 2000 with the passage of the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Act. This made it possible for the states to offer additional assistance to women who qualify for Medicaid and have breast or cervical cancer as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. In addition to treatment, women who qualify can receive free annual screenings.
Tags: Breast Cervical, Breast Cervical Cancer, fall within, qualify Medicaid, Cancer Prevention, Cancer Prevention Treatment, certain groups
