Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/431369
43 The People's Guide 2015 Medi-Cal our which program would be best for you call: MCH Access (213) 749-4261 or the Health Consumer Center of Neighborhood Legal Services at (800) 896-3202. 13. If you are Diagnosed With Breast or Cervical Cancer If you are a man or woman diagnosed with breast cancer or a woman diagnosed with cervical cancer, you can get free Medi-Cal immediately, and during the entire time you are receiving cancer treatment, if your monthly income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (BCCTP). There are no resource limits for this program. To get on Medi-Cal right away (called "Accelerated Eligibility"), you must go to a provider who participates in this program to file an internet applica- tion. You should state that you want the internet application to serve as a Medi-Cal application so you will be eligible for the program for a longer period of time. To find a health facility near you that participates in this program or who will screen you for cancer, call the Los Angeles County Office of Women's Health at (800) 793-8090 or the State Office of Woment's Health at (800) 824-0088. Depending on your age or immigration status, you may get "full scope" (regular) Medi-Cal or you may get time limited Medi-Cal for cancer-related services only 18 months for breast cancer and 24 months for cervical cancer. Call 1-800-824-0088 for more information. 14. Retroactive Benefits If you had medical, dental or pharmacy services from a Medi-Cal provider in the three months before you applied for Medi- Cal, ask your worker for a form to apply for "retroactive benefits." Both the paper and on-line application sites will ask you if you had medical expenses in the last three months. If you did, check Yes.If you were eligible for Medi-Cal during those three months, Medi-Cal may pay those bills. If you've already paid the bills and Medi-Cal covers the services, your clinic, doctor, dentist, or pharmacist must provide the refund to you. If you have trouble getting a refund, call The Health Consumer Center at (800) 896-3203. Income Limits Your countable income determines whether or not you can get Medi-Cal for free or whether you have to pay a "Share of Cost." (You only pay a "share of cost" in months when you actually use services.) The different Medi-Cal programs have different rules for how income is counted and which deductions to allow. In general, adults under age 64 and children may qualify for what is called a "MAGI" Medi-Cal program. The rules for these programs count the income of the person filing taxes in the house and some dependents. For information call : Legal Aid (pg. 68) or the Health Consumer Center (800) 896-3202. Adults aged 65 and older and some dis- abled people may qualify for a "Non-MAGI" Medi-Cal program. In these programs, only the income of the family unit being given the Medi-Cal counts, not of others who may live in the house but aren't part of the application. Elderly (65 and older), blind or disabled persons can deduct: • $20 from any income • $65 from earned income • Half of any remaining earned income • Any health insurance premiums paid by you. Some elderly or disabled people, even though not receiving SSI, may get free Medi-Cal if the countable monthly income is less than $1203(an individual) or $1621(a married couple, both disabled or elderly). This is called the "Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal program. You cannot get free Medi-Cal if your income is even a dollar over these limits. Special income deductions and exemptions apply, so even if you think your income may be too high, you can apply and check with Health Consumer Center at 800-896-3203 or Legal Aid (800) 399-4LAW Special low-cost Medi-Cal for working disabled persons: If you are a disabled person with share of cost Medi-Cal you may be able to get cheaper Medi-Cal with a low monthly premium if you are working. Your job can be any job that pays you income, no matter how small.This program is called the "250% Working Disabled Medi-Cal" program. If you qualify, you will have to pay a monthly premium that goes up the more income that you have. These monthly premiums range from $20 to $250 for an individual and $30 to $375 for a couple (both receiving 250% benefits). Again, special income deductions and exemp- tions apply, so apply even if you think your income may be too high and check with the Health Consumer Center (800) 896-3203 or Legal Aid. Share of Cost Some people must pay, or agree to pay, a "Share of Cost" for each month that they have a medical expense. Medi-Cal will then pay the rest of the bill for covered services that month. You do not have a Share of Cost if: • You are in one of the groups that receive free Medi-Cal (such as those getting CalWORKs, SSI, foster care, adoption assistance, or the Aged and Disabled programs) • Your countable income is below the limit in the chart on page 40. If you have Medi-Cal with a Share of Cost, your Share of Cost starts over every month. You don't have to pay anything in months that you have no medical expense. You can use your past medical bills and the medical bills of family members listed on your application to meet your Share of Cost, including unpaid bills that they are trying to collect from you. You cannot count the same billed item or service twice, but you can carry the balance of an unpaid bill over to later months if a bill is for more than your Share of Cost. If your income goes down, tell your worker so that your "Share of Cost" will go down. 1. Share of Cost for Children Children whose family income is too high for free Medi-Cal can get Medi-Cal with a Share of Cost. An increase in income is not counted toward a share of cost for children up to age 19 who are on no-cost Medi-Cal until their next scheduled annual redetermina- tion. So, even if the child's parents start making more money and the parents have to start immediately paying a Share of Cost as a result, the child still receives Medi-Cal for free until their next annual redetermination.