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Medicaid and Health Care Eligibility The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), since it has been amended has significantly changed the eligibility of non-citizens for Federal means-tested public benefits, including Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP or CHIP). As a general rule, only "qualified aliens" may be eligible for the coverage. In addition, some immigrants cannot be eligible for coverage for 5 years from the date that they entered the country as a qualified alien. Finally, in determining the eligibility of some immigrants, the income and resources of the immigrant’s sponsors must be counted in determining the immigrant’s eligibility. There are many specific cases involved in applying for benefits. For answers to these specific cases, try going to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/immigrants/ for the current rules governing immigrants’ eligibility for Medicaid and SCHIP. Medicaid for non-immigrants, undocumented aliens, and certain permanent resident aliens and their families can be limited to pregnant women, children under 19 years, and caretakers and second parents who are eligible for TANF or TANF related medical programs. For more questions on issues related to undocumented alien families and possible benefits visit http://www.dhs.state.tx.us/programs/elderly/medicaidQandA.html For applications for Medicaid, food stamps,
and financial assistance as well as information on how to fill out the
forms: For an Application for Assistance (medical and financial) for the Aged and Disabled, use form 1200. This is available in English and Spanish at http://www.dhs.state.tx.us/forms/1200/1200.pdf There is an excellent resource called STARS to find out if you and your family might be eligible for many state programs, such as Medicaid, WIC, or food stamps. STARS stands for the State of Texas Assistance and Referral System and it tests your eligibility through an interactive worksheet online. It lists possible programs and the family members who are eligible and will list the websites to get more information. You can test yourself without the scores being reported to any offices. This website is offered in English and en Espanol and provides two different user friendly versions. One version is for those people who have some computer skills already and the other version is available for those people who may not have computer experience. This is a great resource for families and service providers as a screening and reference tool. Go to http://www.txstars.net/ Turn in application for Food Stamps and Children’s Medicaid at your local office: Denton, Carrollton (Non-Dallas County), Flower
Mound, Lewisville, The Colony Grand Prairie Addison, Carrollton (Dallas County Only) Allen, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson
(Non-Dallas County) Irving, Coppell Rockwall (Rockwall County only 75088, 75089) Garland, Mesquite Richardson (Dallas County Only) Sherman (Grayson County Only) Cedar Hill (Dallas County Only) Arlington Bedford, Euless, Hurst, North Richland Hills
(Tarrant County Only 76262) Gainesville (Cooke County Only 76258, 76273) Fort Worth All area offices have IHFSP available toll free at 1-877-236-6500. For more information about Medicaid call the free Medicaid hotline 1-800-252-8263. This line is available Monday through Friday from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Information taken from http://www.dhs.state.tx.us
CHIP- Children's Health Insurance Program Parents and families that don’t qualify for Medicaid due to income levels exceed the eligibility limit but cannot afford health insurance on that income, there is a health insurance program that will cover there children. This program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), provides low cost medical insurance for children who qualify. For more information and an application, go to http://www.texcarepartnership.com. To qualify for CHIP, a child must be: Chip Income Requirement
Exceptions to the 90 days period include- no longer covered by ERS or Chips in another state, lost insurance due to parents lay off, lost insurance due to marital status change of a child’s parent. Information about CHIP taken from www.texcarepartnership.com |
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