Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/398224
43 The People's Guide 2013-2014 Medi-Cal or resources. PE will help you get early prenatal care, lab tests and medication. You still have to turn in a regular Medi-Cal application if you want to continue your Medi-Cal. Even to get full Medi-Cal you have 60 days to provide proof of pregnancy. When you apply for Medi-Cal during preg- nancy, you should add your spouse or any other eligible children to your case. If a woman is not more than 30 weeks pregnant and has too much income to be eligible for free Medi-Cal, she may be eligible for a program called Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM). Call AIM at (800) 433-2611. As soon as the baby is born call your worker to report the name and birthdate to add the new baby to your family case record. The baby needs his or her own card by the end of the month after birth. But, you should not have to fill out a new Medi-Cal application for your baby. If you have trouble reaching your worker to tell the worker about the birth of your baby, some WIC offices and clinics have "Newborn Referral Forms" you can fax to DPSS. Or you can get one yourself on the computer at http://dhs.ca.gov/publications/forms/ Medi-Cal/eligibilitybytitle.htm and down- load the form called, "Newborn Referral". It is number MC 330. You don't have to provide a birth certificate or Social Security number until the baby's first birthday. If you take your baby to a CHDP provider, your baby can also get a card issued through the "CHDP Gateway"(see pg. 49) 12. If you are disabled If you have certain specific severe physi- cal or mental problems, (such as mental retardation or a terminal illness) or certain HIV related conditions, among others), you may be able to get Medi-Cal based on disability evenbefore the state determines you are disabled. Ask to be evaluated for Presumptive Disability. Both children and adults can get disability Medi-Cal. For more information on Presumptive Disability contact the Health Consumer Center (800) 896-3203 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 county health facility 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. 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." The mail-in applica- tion also asks if you want this. 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 several different Medi-Cal programs count the income limits differently. Medi-Cal can only count the income of the family unit being given the Medi-Cal benefit, not of others who may live in the house but aren't part of the application. As a general rule, families applying for Medi-Cal can deduct from total income: • $90 each month for each working adult • Up to $175 for child care for each child age two and over • $200 for childcare for each child under age two • Court-ordered child and spousal support paid • $50 of child support received • Educational expenses • Business expenses of self-employed parents. Once a family qualifies for Medi-Cal, hun- dreds of dollars of their earnings might not count against their eligibility. For example, they can deduct the first $240 of income plus half the remaining earned income. In 2014 the income rules for children, families and some adults without dis- abilities will change. There will be new rules and different deductions. For more information call: Legal Aid (pg. 68) or the Health Consumer Center (800) 896-3203 • Elderly (65 and older), blind or disabled persons can deduct: • $20 • $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 $1188(an individual) or $1603(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 ap- ply and check with your 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.