Medicaid pays for maternity care for low-income pregnant women.
Medicaid is a federally funded health care program that provides health care expense reimbursement to all eligible U.S. citizens and some qualifying non-U.S. residents. The program is regulated by the states, and applicants must meet all eligibility requirements to qualify for coverage. If you think you may be eligible for Medicaid coverage in your state, be prepared to provide your state's Medicaid office with personal information, including your annual income and an inventory of your assets.
Eligibility
Each state extends Medicaid coverage to certain elderly, low-income and disabled persons. Anyone over age 65 without Medicare coverage or Social Security income can file for Medicaid. Disabled U.S. citizens of any age with qualifying handicaps or diseases, such as blindness or paralysis, are eligible for benefits for the extent that the impairment keeps them from working. Additionally, low-income families with children and pregnant women can also file for medical benefits under Medicaid. Income requirements vary by state, but most low-income families and pregnant women with an income less than 100 percent of the federal poverty standard will qualify.
Personal Information
When you apply for Medicaid, you will need to provide your state's Medicaid office with all of your personal information. This includes your Social Security number, proof of citizenship via a voter's registration card or a birth certificate and proof of your state of residence. If you are applying for Medicaid because you are disabled, you must also supply the state with a copy of your medical records, including the names of your primary health care providers. The state will use this information to verify your disablement, and to make a decision on your benefits.
Finances
Low income pregnant women and families with children must provide financial information when applying for Medicaid. Not only will the state require proof of income, but you will also be asked to provide recent tax returns, bank statements, records of life and health insurance policies, prepaid burial contracts or cemetery lots and any investments such as stocks or bonds with cash value. If you have a safety deposit box, you must also provide an inventory of all items inside it at the time you apply.
Apply
To apply for Medicaid, contact your local state Medicaid office through the contact information available through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at CMS.gov. Many states offer an online or phone application process for convenience, though all allow you to apply in person. Applicants can expect to wait up to 45 days for a decision on coverage, and those applying for disability benefits could wait longer. However, states must fully process an application for disability Medicaid within 90 days of receiving the application.
