|
Others Who May Be Eligible for Some Medicaid Assistance
- Medically Needy
Suppose your income is too high for Medicaid. If your medical costs are so high that they use up most of your income, you may qualify for some payment help through the Medically Needy plan.
If you qualify, you will be responsible for paying some of the costs of your medical expenses. This is called meeting a spenddown. Then Medicaid would start to pay for the rest. Think of the spenddown like a deductible that people pay as part of a private insurance plan. If you feel you may be Medically Needy, talk with the IMW (Income Maintenance Worker) at your local DHS office. You can also contact the Member Services Call Center at 800-338-8366 or 515-725-1003 if calling in the Des Moines area to request a copy of the booklet, Medicaid for the Medically Needy.
- Medicare Assistance
Medicaid may also be able to help if you receive benefits though Medicare. Medicare is a federal health insurance program.
If your income is low and you have a hard time paying Medicare premiums, Medicaid may pay for them. Learn more about this option by talking with the IMW at your local DHS office. Find out more about Medicare itself by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or going to http://www.medicare.gov/
- HIPP (Health Insurance Premium Payment)
HIPP is helpful for people who are working in lower paying jobs and can't afford to pay the premium for their company's insurance plan. In this case, Medicaid may find it's cheaper to pay the premium for you. That way, you can be covered under your employer's plan.
If you think you might be eligible, click on HIPP (Health Insurance Premium Payment). You'll find more details and a form to use if you decide to apply.
- Iowa Family Planning Network (IFPN)
If you are female and are 13 - 44 years of age, Iowa's family planning waiver program may be able to help you with the cost of your family planning related services.
You can apply for this program at participating famly planning providers or with your local DHS office. You can obtain your family planning care at any Iowa Medicaid provider.
- State Supplementary Assistance
If you are 65 or older, blind, or disabled and have a special financial need not met by SSI, you may be eligible for an additional benefit through the State Supplementary Assistance program.
For more information on State Supplementary Assistance (SSA), click on the underlined link.
To get help from most Medicaid programs, 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 the number.
- Provide other information you may be asked for. This is necessary to decide if you're eligible for Medicaid. The information is kept private. Please click on Your Privacy Rights for more detail.
How Do Medicaid Members Receive Services?
- Fee-for-Service
Many of Iowa's Medicaid members receive services on a fee-for-service basis. This means that they have a free choice of healthcare providers of service so long as the provider is enrolled in Iowa Medicaid. Iowa Medicaid Providers bill Iowa Medicaid for the services the member received. Payment to the provider is based on a schedule the State has set up for each type of service.
- Managed Health Care
Iowa Medicaid members may be required to enroll in Managed Health Care. This happens if they live in a county where there is a choice of MediPASS providers or where an HMO (health maintenance organization) is also an option. MediPASS providers plan and manage health care for Members.
Being enrolled in Managed Health Care (MHC) does not reduce any Medicaid benefits. It just changes how people get them. MHC works by making sure people have healthcare providers they feel good about and one with whom they can build a strong relationship. Click on a "Your Choice" link below for more details about Managed Health Care.
| 
