This contribution from Adrianne Johnston could save your thousands on Medicare for just working a little.
The 250 working disabled program provides full scope Medi-Cal benefits to working disabled individuals with countable income below 250% of the federal poverty level. Eligible people pay a premium based on their income.
What does this all mean? It means that in the state of California, you may qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal while you are working if you (as an individual) make less than $2,167 a month. AND, your SSDI earnings don’t count towards your monthly income.
*** if you are not in California than check to see if there is a local program that is similar. The first place to check is your local center for independent living. To learn about and contact your local office click here.
Go To: http://thedisabilitydigest.com/Housingcil.htm
Back to the 250 working disabled program…
The premiums you pay are minimal after all the countable income deductions are calculated and/or if your countable earnings per month are in the low to moderate range. Example: If your countable income is determined to be $1-600/mo you will pay $20/mo premium for full Medi-Cal benefits. The most it will be is $250/mo if your countable earnings are $2101-2603 per month.
Here are 2 links with further information on how to qualify:
http://www.disabilitybenefits101.org/ca/programs/health_coverage/medi_cal/250/
And
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/low-income/medi-cal.html
If you qualify for the 250% Working Disabled Program Medi-Cal will also pay your Medicare Part A and B deductibles and copays and pay your monthly Medicare part B premium ($115.40/mo in 2011) once your Medicare benefits begin.
Here is a link with more information on this:
http://www.cahealthadvocates.org/low-income/medi-cal.html
So, if you live in California and can work even a few hours a month the savings on medical expenses under the 250 WDP can be tremendous.
In a nutshell, the easiest explanation of the potential savings is this: add up what you are spending per month in medical (including medications) expenses and minus $20.00/mo from that amount. That would be an estimate of a persons monthly savings.
To break it down further:
If a person qualifies for the 250 DWP and before their Medicare begins their savings would be whatever cost they have been incurring in medical expenses, including medications and minus the monthly premium they will now be paying for Medi-Cal under this program. In my case I now pay $20.00 month premium and am saving approximately $250 a month. It would have been much higher, but I couldn’t afford to pay for tests, etc. that my doctors wanted to do.
If a person qualifies for the 250 DWP and has Medicare part A & B they will be paying the monthly premium (in my case $20.00/mo) and saving on most of the other medical expenses, including the Medicare part B premium, doctor co pays, hospital expenses, etc.
I would believe any state has similar programs where a person would qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare. But, I don’t know if any other state has a program where a disabled person becomes eligible for Medicaid just by working.
What makes this California plan unique and quite puzzling to be honest, is before I started working I did qualify for a Medi-Cal program by being on disability. This program is called a Share Of Cost program. You pay a certain percent of your medical expenses and then Medi-Cal kicks in and pays the rest.
Sounds fair, right? Here’s the interesting part (or whatever other word you think is appropriate): In MY case, being single, no children at home and earning between $1,200-1,500/mo in SSDI payments I was responsible for paying the 1st $850/mo in expenses before Medi-Cal paid a dime.
Tell me…..who in the world could afford that? Does it even make sense?
But, that’s the way it was for me. AND, that is one of the reasons why I am so grateful to be able to work from my home.
I hope this tip saves you some money,
