Medicaid for the poor post-collegiate runner--questions

was wondering too, as I just graduated and am being bumped off of my parents Health care

I'd never go on medicaid. Something about having other people pay for my medical costs because I cant doesnt sound right to me.

You are living the dream. Like Pre you are "going for it!" Just run and you will be healthy and fine.

Win a few road races and you will have plenty of money.

Medicaid threshholds: less than $692 per month in earnings, and net worth of less than $4,000.

You have to be poor,really poor to qualify. There are restrictions some by the Gvt others by the real world-Drs. do not have to accept medicaid as payment in full or for that matter even accept it at all. All hospitals must, that's one of many reasons why Emergency Rooms are full of sprained wrists and sniffles...they can not turn medicaider away.

I signed up for what was then called the AAU's insurance plan which was dirt cheap. Doesn't USATF have something like that today? Look online about becoming a member of USATF. I was able to find sympathetic doctors who were part time athletes to take it and not bill me over what they would cover.

This reeks of a troll, but I'll answer as though you're not...

What a winner...$7 an hour in your late 20s and still living at home? Bet you've got to fight the girls off with a stick.

If you're working 35-40 hours a week why not get a desk job that pays better? It might even be better for your training.

And to answer your question, I wouldn't go on Medicare if I were you. I've always viewed it as medical coverage for those who can't help themselves. You're young (relatively), probably healthy, and have high earning potential. You're the last person that should be on the dole.

wineturtle wrote:

Medicaid threshholds: less than $692 per month in earnings, and net worth of less than $4,000.

You have to be poor,really poor to qualify. There are restrictions some by the Gvt others by the real world-Drs. do not have to accept medicaid as payment in full or for that matter even accept it at all. All hospitals must, that's one of many reasons why Emergency Rooms are full of sprained wrists and sniffles...they can not turn medicaider away.

-Physicians certainly can opt out of medicaid (and medicare) but if they opt to take medicaid then they must accept what medicaid pays. What you are describing is balance billing and is illegal. It's true that medicaid is in general not a great payer source but honestly in 2007 most commercial insurance isn't wonderful and medicare is perhaps becoming the worst of the three because in addition to poor reimbursement there are exponentially increasing hoops and paperwork you must deal with to claim that poor reimbursement.

-Hospitals CAN opt out of medicaid as well. However if the institution participates in medicaid (and most still do) then they must take medicaid from all patients who have it. There is certain federal funding that non participating hospitals are not eligible for as well.

-Emergency Departments are required (via EMTaLA) to at least provide a medical screening exam and then any life saving and stabilizing treatment necessary. In the letter of EMTaLA you do not have to treat anyone who walks through the door you merely have to determine (and document well) that they do not have a true medical emergency. In reality it is often easier to see anyone who walks through the door. However, the perspective on this is changing and you are starting to see EDs utilizing a screening process and allowing patients to pay up front to be seen or to avail themselves of alternative treatment venues.

-Medicaid income guidelines vary from state to state. Usually you can own a home and have it excluded from your asset consideration. You can check with your local dhhr office for your state guidelines. In some cases you can also qualify with a higher income (or more resources) if your medical expenses exceed a certain threshhold via "spenddown".

-If you're young and relatively healthy you may want to consider a health care savings account with some attached sort of catastrophic type hospitalization coverage. Typically these plans are not very expensive and might be a reasonable option.

almost, but not quite wrote:

This reeks of a troll, but I'll answer as though you're not...

What a winner...$7 an hour in your late 20s and still living at home? Bet you've got to fight the girls off with a stick.

If you're working 35-40 hours a week why not get a desk job that pays better? It might even be better for your training.

And to answer your question, I wouldn't go on Medicare if I were you. I've always viewed it as medical coverage for those who can't help themselves. You're young (relatively), probably healthy, and have high earning potential. You're the last person that should be on the dole.

Not Medicare, Medicaid. Medicare is for people 65 and older, or people with End Stage Renal Disease (don't ask).

Another poster was correct - Medicaid thresholds and eligibility vary state to state. The federal government funds about 45% of Medicaid and the states fund the rest. In Texas you have to be dirt poor to qualify. You can make like $40k a year in New Jersey and qualify (if you had a family).

Generally a young, healthy person who is poor will still not qualify for Medicaid coverage. As mentioned previously Medicaid eligibility varies by state. In Virginia the place to check would be at your local department of social services. Who is included in your household also varies by state, but it would not be wise to commit Medicaid fraud and say that you are not living at home.

Generally Medicaid is insurance for people who are poor (under $2000 assets, not including a primary residence and one car per family in Virginia and less than $623 in income a month) and are also disabled, aged, poor children and their caretakers. It also generally covers pregnancy and delivery costs as well. Some states have expanded eligibility guidelines in an attempt to provide universal coverage.

In short, you are not likely to qualify.