Image of baby by Nils Fretwurst
“And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.”
Alma 1:27
About 90 years before Christ’s birth, the prophet Alma led ancient Americans to “impart of their substance..to the poor.” In our day, the United States has laws to protect the poor and needy. One law I’ve recently thought about is Medicaid. Medicaid in a U.S. program set up to help cover health-related expenses for families with low income and few assets.
There are a few things people who apply for Medicaid in Utah should know. Here are several key aspects regarding being eligible and applying for Medicaid in Utah. While the following guidelines may apply only to those applying for Medicaid in Utah in 2012, I believe this list will be helpful to anyone applying for Medicaid in the United States.
Medicaid in Utah- 10 Helpful hints
1) Applying for Medicaid in Utah takes time.
After applying for Medicaid in Utah, it may take up to a month before a decision is made on your application. Quite often Medicaid representatives will request you send in verification forms- including past pay checks, bank account statements, insurance cards, medical bills, receipts, proof of pregnancy forms, proof of student status, etc.
2) Reply quickly to Medicaid verification requests.
In Utah if you do not send in your verification forms within a month after your application was received, your Medicaid application will be denied and you will have to start the process all over again. Even if you sent in actual forms to the Utah Medicaid office, if you miss your due date, you make have to resend in everything.
3) Be ready to make phone calls.
Although you may read about Medicaid online, you may want to make several phone calls to understand the process of applying for Medicaid in your state. For example, when applying for Medicaid I called about five or six people throughout Utah before I began to understand how Medicaid works in Utah.
4) Medicaid eligibility depends on parents’ income.
In order to qualify for Medicaid in Utah your household income must be below a certain threshhold. In order to receive Medicaid health insurance for your family you may need to make less than $1,079/month. In order to receive prenatal Medicaid for a mother and newborn child you may need to make less than $2,116/month.
5) Medicaid eligibility depends on parents’ assets.
In order to qualify for Medicaid in Utah you may need to have total assets below $2,000 if you are a single parent, $3,000 if there are two parents and $5,000 if you are only applying for Medicaid health insurance for your newborn baby.
When assets are calculated they generally do not count the value of your first home or car. They also might not count federal financial aid you received this year as an asset- as long as you show them proof of the financial aid you received.
Assets include the total value of all your checking, savings and stocks accounts. If you have a motor boat or other recreational vehicle that may also be included as part of your total assets.
6) Medicaid eligibility does not count your expenses.
This seems strange, but true. When applying for Medicaid health insurance in Utah, they only look at your assets and income, not your expenses.
7) Medicaid is not entirely free.
Even if you receive Medicaid in Utah, you may still have to pay some money. For example, Medicaid may make you pay a percentage of your assets to them before Medicaid insurance will apply. Also, although Medicaid is known for providing extremely cheap (or even “free”) health insurance, there is no guarantee Medicaid will cover all expenses.
If you are eligible for Medicaid it’s your privelege to be covered, not your right.
8 ) Medicaid is a great blessing.
If you are eligible for Medicaid in Utah, it can be a great blessing. For example Medicaid can cover up to three months retroactively for a mother’s prenatal care, all the expenses of delivering a baby, a mother’s postnatal care for two months after a baby’s born and a baby’s health care for up to a year or more after a baby is born.
9) Keep Medicaid updated.
Because Medicaid applicants’ situations change so frequently, Medicaid requires you notify them when your living situation changes. If you have a change in household income, expense, etc. you are supposed to let Medicaid know and send in verification forms.
10) You may have to apply several times for Medicaid.
Just because your application for Medicaid is denied doesn’t mean you won’t ever qualify for Medicaid. If your income and assets change then you may be eligible for Medicaid. On the other hand if your income and assets grow you may no longer be eligible for Medicaid.
“When we replace a sense of service and gratitude with a sense of entitlement and expectation, we quickly see the demise of our relationships, society, and economy.”
- Steve Maraboli
Personal Notes: We are going through the process of applying for Medicaid in Utah right now and know how long and difficult it can be. I hope these facts are helpful to you. I may not be 100% right on all the details, so you might want to call a Medicaid representative for yourself. I am grateful for Medicaid- whether or not we receive Medicaid, I’m grateful for it. If we don’t receive Medicaid, at least someone who needs it more than us will likely receive it. Regardless, we are blessed beyond measure- everything will work out for those who trust in God and do their best.
