Who receives Medicaid?

Children--Pregnant Women--Elderly--Disabled

Medicaid is a health insurance program for certain groups of people based on income levels. In addition to meeting certain income levels, you need to be in eligibility groups before you can be considered for Medicaid. Specifically, in Iowa, the groups are:

• A child under the age of 21
• A parent living with a child under the age of 18
• A woman who is pregnant
• A person who is elderly (age 65 or older)
• A person is disabled according to Social Security standards
• A woman in need of treatment for breast or cervical cancer
• Others may qualify (see list below)

To be eligible for Medicaid you must:

• Live in Iowa
• Be a US citizen or an alien who is in this country legally
• Provide a Social Security number or proof that you have applied for one
• Provide other information (such as financial and size of family)

Exceptions:

• Up to 3 days of Medicaid is available to pay for the cost of emergency services for aliens who do not meet citizenship, alien status, or social security number requirements. The emergency services must be provided in a facility such as a hospital, clinic, or office that can provide the required care after the emergency medical condition has occurred.

Other people may qualify to receive some but not all Medicaid benefits. Here are is a list of some other people who may be eligible:

Medically Needy. If your income is too high for Medicaid but your medical costs are so high that it uses up most of your income. You may qualify for some payment help through the Medically Needy plan. If you qualify you are responsible for paying some of the costs of your medical expenses.

Medicare Assistance. If your income is low and you have a hard time paying Medicare premiums, Medicaid may be able to help pay the premiums.

Iowa Family Planning Network (IFPN). If you are female between the ages of 13-44, Iowa's family planning waiver program may be able to help you with the cost of your family planning related services.

State Supplementary Assistance. If you are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have a special financial need not met by Social Security, you may be eligible for an additional benefit through this program.

IowaCare. If you are low-income and are a single adult or couple with no children you may be eligible for this limited benefit health coverage.