Health Insurance Help for Low Income Families
Based on 2008 data, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that almost 16 percent of U.S. children do not have health insurance. According to the Urban Institute, low-income working citizens have more health problems and receive fewer benefits from employers, often leaving them and their families uninsured. Low-income families can receive health insurance benefits through federal, state and local government programs. Each program has its own eligibility guidelines and benefits can vary.
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Medicaid
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Each state administers a Medicaid program, which provides health insurance for low-income households and individuals. States maintain their own guidelines and services and eligibility requirements vary. Medicaid programs typically include multiple categories of coverage and each category can have different income limits, age requirements and resource limits. In certain cases, children of immigrants can receive Medicaid benefits even if their parents do not qualify. State guidelines can require Medicaid participants to pay copayments for services. Medicaid benefits can include doctor visits, hospital services, prescription drug coverage and emergency services.
CHIP
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in all U.S. states. Funded by federal and state tax dollars, the CHIP program offers health-care insurance for children under the age of 18. Participants must hold U.S. citizenship or qualify as eligible non-citizens. Each state determines its own guidelines and services, copayments and premiums and eligibility can vary. General services offered by all states include checkups, laboratory services, immunizations, dental services and hospital care. The program offers certain services, such as preventive care, at no charge but other services can require copayments.
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Medicare
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Medicare offers health-care coverage for individuals 65 years of age and older, people with disabilities and individuals with advanced renal disease. Medicare offers benefits in three plans and participants can choose one, two or all three. Medicare Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospital care, home health care and skilled nursing services. Medicare Part B helps pay for physician services and outpatient services and Medicare Part D offers prescription drug benefits. Enrollees can also choose a single Medicare Advantage Plan, which typically offer all three coverages plus additional benefits. The Social Security Administration administers the Medicare program and typically enrolls individuals for Medicare Parts A and B when they apply for Social Security benefits.
Local and State Programs
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Certain state and local governments offer health-care insurance for their residents. For example, San Francisco, California, offers the Healthy San Francisco plan for uninsured residents. The program extends eligibility to all residents with a household income equal to or less than 500 percent of the established federal poverty level, regardless of preexisting health issues or employment status. Healthy San Francisco benefits include hospital care, emergency services and prescription drugs.
The State of Indiana provides the Healthy Indiana Plan for residents 19 to 64 years of age. The program determines eligibility based on income limits and offers sliding-scale premiums. Benefits include prescription drugs, diagnostic services, mental health care and hospital services.
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References
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicaid Program-General Information
- InsureKidsNow.gov: What is CHIP?
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Medicare and You
- San Francisco Health Plan: Healthy San Francisco
- San Francisco Health Plan: Welcome to Healthy San Francisco
- City of Bloomington: Healthy Indiana Plan
Resources
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