Medicaid and financial Aid

[steph66]

I applied for pregnancy medicaid last month and I am dealing with a caseworker from he**. Its been over 15 business days and she still has not processed my application or even put it in the computer. Anyways-I'm trying to gather up all the documents she will probably ask for so when she does contact me I can have them ready and waiting. Does anyone know how financial aid affects your application? Does this count towards my income or does this count "against" me in any way? And will she need a letter or something from my school? This is a brand new process for me and I'm trying to hurry it along since I'm already 9 weeks pg() and have yet to see a doc or have any blood work etc. done. and who knows how long she will drag this out for....

[MaerynPearl]

FWIW I cant tell you anything about the financial aid... but I went in for a confirmation at 6 weeks, went to DHS the same day to apply for illinois version of medicaid and finally got the confirmation 20 days later.

Some docs dont even see you until 12 weeks so 9 isnt too bad and you should have it all taken care of by 12... you DID mention you are pregnant though right? That tends to get a rush put on it.

[steph66]

Thanks Mae, Yeah I told them I was pregnant and all that, guess they don't really care I know I'm not too far along without seeing a doctor, its just that I'm personally not comfortable not being seen yet (its just the way I am LOL) and I also like to already have things set up with a doctor so I can feel cool just calling them up if anything comes up with the pregnancy. I've been calling and calling and can't get through to anyone at the office (tried for days now) and can't get ahold of my caseworker who hasn't returned my messages. Its hard to make it up there b/c I have classes and clinicals all week and really don't have time to be waiting up there for hours. Hopefully she'll give me a call back tomorrow, I know for a fact it won't be today...

[elf_babykins]

I'm not sure how it is in your state, but here they only have x number of days to process your claim. She may be taking the full amount of time. I don't know about financial aid, it may count as income? When you filed, did you provide proof of pregnancy or just 'say' you were pregnant? In Nebraska you have to take a preg test at the health dept. and prove it before they will begin processing you.

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Originally Posted by steph66

I applied for pregnancy medicaid last month and I am dealing with a caseworker from he**. Its been over 15 business days and she still has not processed my application or even put it in the computer. Anyways-I'm trying to gather up all the documents she will probably ask for so when she does contact me I can have them ready and waiting. Does anyone know how financial aid affects your application? Does this count towards my income or does this count "against" me in any way? And will she need a letter or something from my school? This is a brand new process for me and I'm trying to hurry it along since I'm already 9 weeks pg() and have yet to see a doc or have any blood work etc. done. and who knows how long she will drag this out for....

I don't know how it works where you are but when I had my ds (10 years ago mind you in Maine) I did have to bring in my aid letter. I'd have it ready just in case. I also had to Dr verification of my pregnancy (the OB was willing to wait to charge). They did cover that initial visit once I was approved.

[MaerynPearl]

yeah, once I was put on the medicaid... it covered me back to the beginning of the month I applied in (aka January though I did not get the confirmation until the beginning of February) so that covered my doctors confirmation of pregnancy as well (they gave me a letter that the doctor signed to state that I was indeed pregnant.)

[Unconventional1]

You do need a letter from the school, at least here you do for any type of aid, but I don't think they count it as actual income, it just shows that you actually are capable of paying your bills with money coming in.

[hunterofkyle]

I'm in NY right now and from the website I found that students generally do not qualify for basic medicaid. The rules are different for pregnant women, however. If you're not covered elsewhere and make less than 200% or 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, then you're covered almost automatically. When trying to qualify for any assistance, I believe student loans would be counted as income for the person to whom they were granted (only any amount you received beyond tuition), but would not be income for anyone else on their application (spouse, children, etc.)

My husband is a full-time student in his last year of medical school. We are applying for medicaid right now to cover us until July when he starts residency. We were told he is automatically unable to receive assistance because they do not cover students under normal circumstances in NY. The children and I, however, do qualify and none of his student loan income is counted as income on our application for assistance.

Like I said, though, pregnant women without insurance will usually qualify under some sub-program in that state. I'm sure you'll be fine.

I would keep calling and emailing. Also, most states have a hotline to file a complaint if feel you're application is not being handled properly. I have used the hotline in the past and been able to get answers within a few hours.

Good luck.

[sharr610]

Just recently went through this. First, they do, in fact, only have so long to process your application, at least here in OR. Call and find out and if its been beyond that, ask to speak to a supervisor.

Second, here, my aid was backdated to the date we applied.

Finally, my husband is our primary source of income as a grad student with a small stipend and student loans. We put them down as a source of income on the application, but when the caseworker looked at them, she said since they are federal loans, they don't count towards income. BUT, when I was waiting on my app to be processed, I also asked around and got different answers. Some people made me think that its different in grad school/undergrad. Some people said it was different state to state...I honestly don't know besides what happened for us.

So...all I can do is offer you that and wish you luck!!!!

[steph66]

Thanks everyone! I finally got through to her and I think she actually forgot about my case or something. Anyways she sure was nice and changed her attitude once she realized that her 15 days were up on Friday (here in Texas they only have 15 business days to process). She actually didn't ask me anything so far about my financial aid. I faxed her the other papers she needed and she said that she would make a decision by the end of the day and let me know. So I'm sooo happy! The doctors here in my town won't see you until they know the status of your application, so they won't see you and just wait to charge it to medicaid, they want you to be approved and get the temporary card or they won't see you at all unless you prepay for your services. My DP and I work at the same company thats an awesome company but unfortunately they don't offer health insurance so that's why I'm really hoping that this comes through. Thanks everyone!!

[MaerynPearl]

well for ya!

I'm only on it because as a stay-at-home-mom who is not yet married to the babies father (will be at 29 1/2 weeks) I cannot get on his medical just yet. We all have different reasons... but it really helps when you need it!

[steph66]

So I got approved! I am so freaking happy! I already scheduled my first appt. for Monday! I will be 10 weeks. I am so thankful to get approved. With DD things were so expensive even with a "good" insurance so this is really helpful right now that I'm a fulltime student in a program where there is no wriggle room for working. I too am glad that its there for those who need it. And I guess financial aid has no effect on this because she didn't ask me not one question about it or anything. So in case anyone else ever needs to know, in Texas I guess it doesn't affect your application. Thanks so much everyone!

[Fruitful4Him]

chiming in late here, but I wanted to add... it does vary from state to state, as to what they count as income and assets. In Indiana, they have what is called PE (presumptive eligibility) for a period of time while you are waiting for the Medicaid to be approved, so mothers can get in for any early prenatal care they may need. Indiana has had a lot of glitches with the failed "modernization" switchover...which incidently started the day that TEXAS terminated their IBM contract... what a huge frickin mess. Anyways... we are now entering a "hybrid system" phase. I was approved in NOVEMBER but was never notified. I finally phoned in mid January (I figured with the holidays and the end of the year and beginning of the year stuff I would give them some slack), only to find that yeah, I had been approved for pregnancy medicaid for a few months at that point. So... your milage may vary...considerably.

ALSO. I am a student and I receive pell grants and it has never impacted our aid in Indiana....FWIW. But in some states it does.