The Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program
Talent Knows No Limits
Are you a person with a
disability who wants to work?
disability who wants to work?
If
you have Medi-Cal with a share of cost because of your earnings, or if
you have been denied Medi-Cal because you are working, you may qualify
under the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program
(also known as the Medi-Cal "250%" Working Disabled Program).
If you also receive Medicare, enrolling in the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program will automatically qualify you for the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (plan-covered prescription drugs between $1.10 and $6.30). Also, Medi-Cal will pay for your Medicare Part B premium. If you are a person with a disability and you work full-time, part-time, or are self-employed, you may be able to receive Medi-Cal health coverage. The Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program allows you to earn up to $55,188* a year, or more, as an individual and still qualify for affordable Medi-Cal coverage.
If you also receive Medicare, enrolling in the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program will automatically qualify you for the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy (plan-covered prescription drugs between $1.10 and $6.30). Also, Medi-Cal will pay for your Medicare Part B premium. If you are a person with a disability and you work full-time, part-time, or are self-employed, you may be able to receive Medi-Cal health coverage. The Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program allows you to earn up to $55,188* a year, or more, as an individual and still qualify for affordable Medi-Cal coverage.
What is Medi-Cal?
Medi-Cal
is California's name for the federal Medicaid Program. Medi-Cal
provides health coverage (including medical, dental, vision and personal
assistance services) for low-income families
and persons with disabilities who lack sufficient health coverage.
What is required of me?
To qualify for the Medi-Cal Working Disabled
Program you need to:
• Be a resident of the United States living in
California.
• Meet Social Security's definition of a disability.
• Be employed full-time or part-time,
including self-employment, with countable earnings at, or below, 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. "Work" is undefined for the purposes of this program and there is no minimum work requirement in order to qualify; however, you must be able to prove you are working and earning income.
Program you need to:
• Be a resident of the United States living in
California.
• Meet Social Security's definition of a disability.
• Be employed full-time or part-time,
including self-employment, with countable earnings at, or below, 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. "Work" is undefined for the purposes of this program and there is no minimum work requirement in order to qualify; however, you must be able to prove you are working and earning income.
How much can I earn?
As a
single individual, for example, you can earn about $4,600* a month in
gross wages in 2011 and qualify for Medi-Cal health coverage. From your
total monthly gross earnings, $85 will be
subtracted, and then only half of what remains is considered as
countable earned income when Medi-Cal decides whether or not you are
eligible. You may also be able to subtract your impairment-related work
expenses (out-of-pocket expenses that are related to
your disability and are needed in order to work).
* For up-to-date income levels, please visit the Medi-Cal section at http://www.ca.db101.org/
* For up-to-date income levels, please visit the Medi-Cal section at http://www.ca.db101.org/
Is there a premium?
Enrollees in the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program pay a small monthly premium based on countable earned income.
Disability Income, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), is not currently counted as income for this program when figuring out your monthly premium amount.
For example:
• An individual whose gross income is
between $1,287 and $1,485 pays a monthly premium of $25.
• A couple whose gross income is between $1,287 and $1,485 pays a monthly premium of $40.
Using the Medi-Cal for the Working Disabled Calculator at http://www.ca.db101.org/ , you can determine whether or not you might be eligible for the program, and how much your monthly premium may be.
Disability Income, such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), is not currently counted as income for this program when figuring out your monthly premium amount.
For example:
• An individual whose gross income is
between $1,287 and $1,485 pays a monthly premium of $25.
• A couple whose gross income is between $1,287 and $1,485 pays a monthly premium of $40.
Using the Medi-Cal for the Working Disabled Calculator at http://www.ca.db101.org/ , you can determine whether or not you might be eligible for the program, and how much your monthly premium may be.
Can I receive personal assistance where I work?
You
may be eligible to receive personal assistance services (assistance with
dressing, transferring, bathing, preparing meals, cleaning, etc.)
through Medi-Cal's In-Home Supportive Services
(IHSS) program. Medi-Cal is unique compared to other health coverage in
that it provides funding for personal assistance services through the
IHSS program. California law
allows individuals with disabilities to use IHSS service hours to obtain, retain, or return to employment. To use personal assistance services at work, you must first qualify for the IHSS program for in-home services. After being approved for IHSS, you can transfer some of the service hours from the home to the workplace.
allows individuals with disabilities to use IHSS service hours to obtain, retain, or return to employment. To use personal assistance services at work, you must first qualify for the IHSS program for in-home services. After being approved for IHSS, you can transfer some of the service hours from the home to the workplace.
What assets am I allowed?
•
You can have $2,000 as an individual, or $3,000 as a married couple, in
personal property, including cash, stocks, and some other items.
• You can own one car and the home you live in.
• You can have Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans. These kinds of savings are exempt and not counted towards the $2,000 (or $3,000) asset limit in this program.
• You can receive disability income from Social Security, state or private disability insurance, or Worker's Compensation.
Disability income is exempt and not counted in this program. However, your disability income may be impacted by the income you are earning from work.
Visit http://www.ca.db101.org/. to learn more about Social Security work incentives. Use the benefits planning calculators to determine how your disability benefits may be affected by earning income from work.
• You can own one car and the home you live in.
• You can have Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Individual Development Accounts (IDAs), retirement plans, and deferred compensation plans. These kinds of savings are exempt and not counted towards the $2,000 (or $3,000) asset limit in this program.
• You can receive disability income from Social Security, state or private disability insurance, or Worker's Compensation.
Disability income is exempt and not counted in this program. However, your disability income may be impacted by the income you are earning from work.
Visit http://www.ca.db101.org/. to learn more about Social Security work incentives. Use the benefits planning calculators to determine how your disability benefits may be affected by earning income from work.
Who should I contact for more
information?
information?
Contact
your County Social Services Office if you think you may qualify for the
Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program. You may want to bring in this
brochure when you visit the office and mention
that the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program is "aid code 6G" in their
county computer system. Document any communication and keep any notices
received from the Medi-Cal county office while undergoing your
eligibility determination for the Medi-Cal Working Disabled
Program.
Contact
information for local Medi-Cal offices and an application for the
Medi-Cal program can be found on the Department of Health Care Services'
website:
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/
Knowledgeable benefits planners are available to assist you in determining how your salary may affect your government benefits. http://www.ca.db101.org
offers a directory of local benefits planners and information for workers and job seekers with disabilities.
Upcoming changes planned for the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program
Assembly
Bill 1269/chapter 282 was signed into law on October 2009 making
several program changes to the Medi-Cal Working Disabled Program:
• Social Security Retirement income will remain exempt for individuals who were
previously on Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI automatically converts to retirement income upon reaching full
retirement age).
• Allows for unlimited earnings to be saved in a separately identifiable account (individuals/couples will be allowed savings over the
typical $2,000/$3,000 Medi-Cal asset limit once they are enrolled in the Medi-Cal
Working Disabled program).
• Premium amount will be changed to 5% of countable income, which will also include
disability-based income. Minimum and maximum premium rates ($20-$250 for individuals, $30-$375 for couples) will remain the same.
These new rules will go into effect shortly after American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds for the Medi-Cal program expire. For updated information on whether these policy changes have been put into practice, please visit the Medi-Cal section of the Disability Benefits 101 website:
http://www.ca.db101.org
• Social Security Retirement income will remain exempt for individuals who were
previously on Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI automatically converts to retirement income upon reaching full
retirement age).
• Allows for unlimited earnings to be saved in a separately identifiable account (individuals/couples will be allowed savings over the
typical $2,000/$3,000 Medi-Cal asset limit once they are enrolled in the Medi-Cal
Working Disabled program).
• Premium amount will be changed to 5% of countable income, which will also include
disability-based income. Minimum and maximum premium rates ($20-$250 for individuals, $30-$375 for couples) will remain the same.
These new rules will go into effect shortly after American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funds for the Medi-Cal program expire. For updated information on whether these policy changes have been put into practice, please visit the Medi-Cal section of the Disability Benefits 101 website:
http://www.ca.db101.org
No comments:
Post a Comment