medicaid Q for my kids (and me)

amother

Tue, Mar 27 2012, 10:29 pm

me and my fam are travelling from israel to NY for 3 months iyh soon - travellers insurance is EXPENSIVE, and doesnt cover much, I was wondering if I can apply for Medicaid while I'm there since I have 2 kids.
1.we definitely are under the minimum wage bracket
2.we will technically be living there for the short term

how long would the process take? where can I go to get help in applying and getting processed? is it worth it?
thanks!!

amother

Tue, Mar 27 2012, 10:54 pm

I am very familiar with medicaid due to my job. Don't know what county you would be applying in but most medicaid offices are backed up for months. You will long be gone by the time you're approved. No dr will see you without an active medicaid number and if ch"v you need an emergencey room or hospital stay they are obligated to treat you with or without insurance. If your worried about bills, don't show ID and don't give any information such as an address or social security number. They won't be able to find you. You can also apply for medicaid through the hospital and then they will get paid retroactively.
If, however, something tragoc ch"v happens and someone ends up with an extended hospital stay and possibly rehab after that before returning to home, you will definitely need to apply for medicaid but that is something you have time to do if the need arises.
(I realize my advice is not necessarily so 'yashrus' but with the way medicaid offices are nowadays applying for a short stay won't help you unless you apply way in advance)

amother

Wed, Mar 28 2012, 3:03 am

amother wrote:

OP here- thanks for the info- when you say" dont show ID or social"- ur talking about a hospital right (ch"v)- and they would treat anyways? I am aware that community hospitals must treat regardless of whether you have insurance or not. Also, I cant apply in advance if I'm in israel right? I need to have a face to face appt? what about the kids? they dont care that they are uninsured?

Mama Bear

Wed, Mar 28 2012, 10:06 am

It doesnt ttake 3 months to get approved, it takes 6 weeks. You can start the process from EY, you'll just have to fax all yiur documents over. Emergency rooms are obligated to treat people regardless if they have insurance or are here legally, but hopefully it won't come to that. For a simple sick visit many clinics charge a very minimum fee like $30 or so if youre uninsured . You can try any of the community organizatins iin bbrooklyn to expedite your case, you can call them even from EY. Hatzlacha.