What do you do if you're not eligible for Medicare/Medicaid, yet you've been rejected for private insurance AND you can't get employer-sponsored insurance?
In such instances, you may want to look into your state's CHIP program. CHIP stands for Comprehensive Health care Insurance Program. It is sometimes referred to as SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program.)
People with preexisting conditions such as AIDS, cancers, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, Hodgkin’s Disease, Leukemia, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s Disease, and other similar diseases, who can't get insurance elsewhere can look to CHIPs. CHIP is not insurance, but a health benefit program.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Medicare/Medicaid. Can you use it?
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
You must be 65 year of age or older to qualify for Medicare. It can also be used by people with certain disabilities.
Medicaid is an aid program for people under 65 who cannot afford insurance, or who have disabilities.
The Social Security Disability Insurance is for people under the age of 65 who have disabilities. Once on this insurance for two years, you can transition to Medicare despite your age. SSDI's number is 800/772-1213.
Visit Medicare's website to see if you qualify.
http://www.medicare.gov/.
You can also call your local Public Aid office.
Medicaid, on the other hand, is a state regulated program. So it varies from state to state. Call or visit your state's Department of Health care and Family Services website to get more information.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had a good overview of what the process entails.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp
You must be 65 year of age or older to qualify for Medicare. It can also be used by people with certain disabilities.
Medicaid is an aid program for people under 65 who cannot afford insurance, or who have disabilities.
The Social Security Disability Insurance is for people under the age of 65 who have disabilities. Once on this insurance for two years, you can transition to Medicare despite your age. SSDI's number is 800/772-1213.
Visit Medicare's website to see if you qualify.
http://www.medicare.gov/.
You can also call your local Public Aid office.
Medicaid, on the other hand, is a state regulated program. So it varies from state to state. Call or visit your state's Department of Health care and Family Services website to get more information.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had a good overview of what the process entails.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/home/medicaid.asp
School Rules!
You may or may not know this, but when you're enrolled at a university or college you either automatically get health care, or you can opt-in. This applies no matter what you're age.
So, if you've been rejected for private insurance and don't have a degree, or need another one, consider going back to school.
If the college of your choice doesn't have it, or you're using an online university, check out FORTIS, who has a policy just for students.
So, if you've been rejected for private insurance and don't have a degree, or need another one, consider going back to school.
If the college of your choice doesn't have it, or you're using an online university, check out FORTIS, who has a policy just for students.
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