Health Insurance
Articles and Spotlights
Medicare and
MassHealth (Medicaid)
- Medicare has four parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance)
- Part B (Medical Insurance)
- Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)
- Part D (Prescription Drug Plan)
- SSDI recipients receive Medicare after 24 months.
- Free MassHealth Standard is available to those on SSI
- Others can apply for MassHealth CommonHealth which may have a premium.
* MEDICARE AND MASSHEALTH (MEDICARE) CAN BE COMPLICATED SYSTEMS TO MANEUVER. INQUIRE ON HOW TO NAVIGATE THESE SYSTEMS AND OBTAIN THE COVERAGE TO WHICH YOU ARE ENTITLED.
MassHealth Renewals
and Redeterminations
- The renewal and redetermination process for MassHealth coverage happens annually for all MassHealth members, to confirm they are still eligible for their current health insurance.
* BEST PRACTICES ARE:
- UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
- REPORT ANY HOUSEHOLD CHANGES
- CREATE A MA LOGIN ACCOUNT
- READ ALL MAIL FROM MASSHEALTH *
Private Health Insurance
Age 26 and Beyond
All children can remain under a parent's health insurance policy until age 26. Children with disabilities can often remain indefinitely on a parent's policy after age 26.
* INQUIRE ON THE STEPS TO TAKE TO CONTINUE HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR A DISABLED DEPENDENT AFTER THE AGE OF 26. MAINTAINING PRIVATE INSURANCE PRESERVES FLEXIBILITY FOR HEALTHCARE TREATMENT *
MassHealth
Premium Assistance
- What is MassHealth Premium Assistance?
- Who qualifies for Premium Assistance?
* THIS GENEROUS BENEFIT MAY REIMBURSE A SUBSCRIBER'S (TYPICALLY THE PARENT) ENTIRE EMPLOYER-SPONSORED MEDICAL INSURANCE PREMIUM (UP TO $1,314 PER MONTH) WHEN THEY COVER THEIR MASSHEALTH ELIGIBLE DEPENDENT ON THAT POLICY. MOST PARENTS OBTAIN FREE MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY. I KID YOU NOT. INQUIRE ON HOW TO QUALIFY FOR AND OBTAIN THIS BENEFIT. *
Continued Medicaid (MassHealth) Eligibility
When an SSI beneficiary is no longer eligible for an SSI cash benefit due to receiving too much earned or unearned income, they may be able to maintain their free Medicaid (MassHealth Standard) coverage under Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act.
* CONTINUED FREE MASSHEALTH STANDARD (MEDICIAD) COVERAGE IS POSSIBLE IF YOU STILL MEET BOTH THE DISABILITY AND NON-DISABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SSI. A KEY NON-DISABILITY REQUIREMENT IS NOT EXCEEDING THE $2,000 ASSET LIMIT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL AND MAINTAINING GROSS EARNINGS BELOW SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY *
Medicare
Savings Programs
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are programs that pay for some or all of Medicare beneficiaries' premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. In Massachusetts, MSPs are run by MassHealth. You do not have to be a MassHealth member to qualify for a MSP.
* THERE ARE THREE COVERAGE TYPES AS PART OF MSPs.
- QUALIFIED MEDICARE BENEFICIARY (QMB)
- SPECIAL LOW INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARY (SLMB)
- QUALIFYING INDVIDUAL (QI) *