Medicaid Advantage Medicaid Advantage Plus Application Requirements: Fill & Download for Free

SSA is Social Security Administration. SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance. SSI is Supplemental Security Income.The application for disability benefits is the same for SSDI and SSI and the process of determining if you are disabled enough to not be able to work full time is the same. It’s a long, complicated process that can take years and requires significant medical proof.Once you are determined eligible for benefits, they will look at your financial records to determine which programs you are eligible for. You don’t get any choice in this except in one rare case I’ll go into below.SSDI is Social Security Disability Insurance. It is based on work credits, or a parent’s credits if you became disabled before age 23. The amount you get each month is based on how many hours, at what wage, and how recently you worked.SSDI comes with Medicare insurance, though there is a delay of a year from when you applied before it starts. However most people have to fight and appeal for years before they are awarded benefits, so many of us get Medicare at the same time as our other benefits. You’re allowed to work part time while on benefits and can earn up to $880 (as of 2019) without it affecting your benefits. The average benefit is $1,197 per month and the max possible is $2,788.SSI is Supplemental Security Insurance and is for disabled people or the elderly who have little or no work credits and are very, very poor. In 2019 your benefit max is $771, plus a possible state stipend. Any income of any kind will affect your monthly payment, whether that is wages, interest, SSDI, or even monetary gifts. Certain kinds of help with housing and food can count as income also.You’re also not allowed to have more than $2,000 in the bank or cash, except in a special ABLE account or type of disability trust fund. You may not have more than one car or one house/land. SSI comes with Medicaid insurance.If your SSDI payment is below $771 and you otherwise qualify for SSI, you can get both.A disabled child will get SSI until a parent becomes disabled, retires, or passes away. Then they are eligible for Disabled Adult Child benefits, which is SSDI based on the parent’s work credits. A person can go onto DAC no matter how old they are as long as they were originally disabled before age 23. If both parents are eligible, they will get benefits based on whichever has more work credits.This is the one case when you get to choose whether you’d like to stay on SSI or switch to DAC. SSDI/DAC monthly payments tend to be significantly higher and have fewer financial restrictions, as explained above.Before choosing to change the child from SSI to DAC, there are two things to keep in mind.Medicaid (SSI) covers in-home care if you need help bathing, eating, dressing, or taking meds. If you need at least two of those, you qualify for care which also covers things like cooking, shopping, and light housework. Medicare (SSDI/DAC) only covers this kind of care if you have a Medicare Advantage plan (as of 2019) or if you also need skilled nursing for things like breathing equipment, feeding tubes, IVs, etc.However, there is a secret clause that you cannot lose Medicaid when you switch from SSI to DAC (as well as in a few other situations). Many of the SSA employees will not be aware of this so you will need to educate them and fight for it. I recommend printing this link and giving it to them. SI 01715.015 - Special Groups of Former SSI Recipients - 02/06/2013The second thing to be aware of is that if you are on DAC and marry someone who is not also on SSDI or DAC then you will lose your benefits. You may be able to go back to SSI if your spouse’s income is extremely low.

"What Medicare parts do I need when I retire? I have Part A now but will need insurance for prescriptions and doctor visits. Do I need anything else?"The simple answer is that you need Part A, and you should add Part B as soon you come off your employer based plan or when first eligible if you’re not covered by one or out of the country.You should also add a Part D plan. This can be the cheapest one that makes sense until your prescription expenses justify a richer plan.If you can afford a Supplement plan you should get one when you turn 65 because it will be guaranteed issue and you will get the best rates possible.But if the idea of reducing your monthly insurance premiums in exchange for a network-based plan sounds appealing, then an Advantage plan may be a good fit. It’s a personal decision.Below I’ve outlined some general Medicare information that may be of some help. All pricing is current for 2019.A brief summary of the standard Medicare plan features:Part AHospital insurance. Helps pay for hospital stays and inpatient care. Already paid for with your tax withholdings.Part BMedical insurance. Helps pay for doctor visits and outpatient care. You pay a monthly premium (typically withheld from your Social Security check).Part DPrescription Drug insurance. Helps reduce the costs of prescription drugs. You choose a private insurance company and pay them a monthly premium (typically withheld from your Social Security check).What does Medicare NOT cover?Deductibles and out-of-pocket costs from Parts A, B, and DRoutine Dental careRoutine Vision careRoutine Hearing careLong-term custodial careCare received outside the USWhat are the potential expenses or risks to a Medicare beneficiary?Part A$1,364 deductible per benefit period (a medical event requiring hospital care up to 60 days)$341 charge per day (for days 61-90)$682 charge per lifetime reserve day (maximum of 60 days)There is no out-of-pocket limit (this is arguably the biggest risk)Part B$135.50 per month (people with high Adjusted Gross Incomes may pay more)$185 annual deductible20% for services (based on the Medicare approved charge)Excess charges (amount a provided bills above the approved charge)There is no out-of-pocket limit (this is a potential risk)Part DAnnual deductible (varies by plan)Cost sharing in the “donut hole” from $3820 to $5100Cost sharing in the Catastrophic range until year endMost people don’t reach the donut hole, but for those who do it’s expensive.How do people lower the financial risk beyond Medicare?Option 1Original Medicare plus a Supplement plus a Part D plan.Benefits are administered by MedicareOption 2Part C Medicare AdvantageAll-in-one plan offered by private insurance companiesCombines Part A and Part BUsually includes Part DAnd may offer additional benefits not covered under original MedicareBenefits are administered by the insurance companyAre there penalties for not enrolling in Medicare?Medicare Part A• None if qualified for premium free• Otherwise 10%Medicare Part B• None if qualified for Special Election Period (SEP)• Otherwise 10% for each full 12-month periodMedicare Part D• None if less than 63 days without creditable coverage• Otherwise 1% of current average premium for each monthThere are Additional government programs to reduce your costs.Extra Help for Prescription Drug PlansEven if your Rx costs are low, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the monthly premium for your Prescription Drug Plan if your monthly income meets certain thresholds. This benefit is available at the Federal level through the Social Security Administration.Learn more and apply here: https://secure.ssa.gov/i1020/startIndividuals who apply directly for the Medicare Extra Help Program (link above) have the option of having the same application consideration for the Medicare Savings Program (administered by their state Medicaid program).

There are going to be a lot of questions like this, most of them insincere by QPP members who think they will get a lot of views and answers and a few cents, but I wanted to answer one just to have it in the record. Maybe it will help a few people become more critical thinkers and not succumb to lies and trolls so easily.This question is very easily answered with a quick search on Google. But just in case you do not have 3 minutes for a search I have posted a synopsis of the bill below for you. I notice that there are many MAGA propagandists posting false information about the Covid Relief Bill so I thought I would post the truth just in case anyone is interested. When some liar tells you that the bill is full of pork and that only 9% goes for relief you can be assured that they are a troll and have not read the bill but are just repeating talking points that they have been given by right wing propaganda outlets.Here's what's in the Senate bill that just passed and will go back to the House for a vote and then to President Biden for his signature:And I quote…..“Stimulus checks“The Senate bill amends the House bill on the $1,400-per-person stimulus payments to tighten eligibility.Individuals earning less than $75,000 a year and married couples earning less than $150,000 will receive $1,400 per person, including children. That will get money to about 90% of households.The checks will phase out faster than previous rounds, completely cutting off individuals who earn more than $80,000 a year and married couples earning more than $160,000 -- regardless of how many children they have.The bill passed by the House set the income caps at $200,000 for couples and $100,000 for individuals. The Senate change leaves out about 7 million families, according to an estimate from the Penn Wharton Budget Model.Unlike the previous two rounds, adult dependents -- including college students -- are expected to be eligible for the payments.Unemployment assistanceUnlike the House bill, the Senate version calls for providing a $300 federal boost to weekly jobless payments and extending two key pandemic unemployment benefits programs through September 6, an arrangement hammered out after hours of negotiation on Friday.The agreement would also make the first $10,200 worth of benefits payments tax-free for households with annual incomes less than $150,000.This is a significant change from the House bill, which would provide a $400 weekly enhancement through August 29 and continue two pandemic programs for the same period. The House bill does not contain the tax provision.The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program provides benefits to freelancers, gig workers, independent contractors and certain people affected by the pandemic, while the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program increases the duration of payments for those in the traditional state unemployment system.The President's plan had called for providing a $400 boost and continuing the benefits through the end of September.Out-of-work Americans will start running out of benefits in the two programs in mid-March, when provisions in December's $900 billion relief package begin phasing out. The $300 enhancement that was part of the December deal also ends in mid-March.Minimum wageThe Senate bill does not include an increase in the federal minimum wage, which House Democrats proposed raising to $15 an hour.The parliamentarian ruled in late February that increasing the hourly threshold does not meet a strict set of guidelines needed to move forward in the reconciliation process, which would allow Senate Democrats to pass the relief bill with a simple majority and no Republican votes.The House legislation would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 in stages. It would also guarantee that tipped workers, youth workers and workers with disabilities are paid the full federal minimum wage.Aid to states and municipalitiesThe Senate bill would provide $350 billion to states, local governments, territories and tribes, the same amount as the House.Additional assistance to states has been among the most controversial elements of the congressional rescue packages, with Democrats looking to add to the $150 billion in the March legislation and Republicans resisting such efforts. The December package ultimately dropped an initial call to include $160 billion.Nutrition assistanceThe Senate and House plans both extend the 15% increase in food stamp benefits through September, instead of having it expire at the end of June.They also contain $880 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, to help increase participation and temporarily improve benefits, among other measures. Biden called for investing $3 billion in the program.And they would allow states to continue the Pandemic-EBT, which provides families whose children's schools are closed with funding to replace free- and reduced-price meals the kids would have received, through the summer.Housing aidBoth bills would send roughly $20 billion to state and local governments to help low-income households cover back rent, rent assistance and utility bills.About $10 billion would be authorized to help struggling homeowners pay their mortgages, utilities and property taxes.The bills would provide $5 billion to help states and localities assist those at risk of experiencing homelessness and another $5 billion for emergency housing vouchers for those who are homeless.Tax credits for families and workersBoth the House and Senate legislation beef up tax credits for families and certain low-income workers for 2021.In an effort to combat poverty, lawmakers would expand the child tax credit to $3,600 for each child under 6 and $3,000 for each child under age 18. Currently, qualifying families can receive a credit of up to $2,000 per child under age 17.The credit would also become fully refundable so more low-income parents could take advantage of it. Plus, families could receive payments monthly, rather than a lump sum once a year, which would make it easier for them to pay the bills.The bills also enhance the earned income tax credit for workers without children by nearly tripling the maximum credit and extending eligibility to more people. The minimum age to claim the childless credit would be reduced to 19, from 25, and the upper age limit would be eliminated.This would be the largest expansion to earned income tax credit since 2009.Optional paid sick and family leaveUnlike Biden's initial proposal, neither bill would reinstate mandatory paid family and sick leave approved in a previous Covid relief package. But they continue to provide tax credits to employers who voluntarily choose to offer the benefit through October 1.Last year, Congress guaranteed many workers two weeks pay if they contracted Covid or were quarantining. It also provided an additional 10 weeks of paid family leave to those who were staying home with kids whose schools were closed. Those benefits expired in December.Education and child careBoth the Senate and House bills would provide nearly $130 billion to K-12 schools to help students return to the classroom. Schools would be allowed to use the money to update their ventilation systems, reduce class sizes to help implement social distancing, buy personal protective equipment and hire support staff. Both bills would require that schools use at least 20% of the money to address learning loss by providing extended days or summer school, for example.While the money provided by the House bill would go to both public and private schools, based on the number of low-income students enrolled, the Senate bill specifically carves out about $2.75 billion for private schools.The bills are in line with what Biden proposed, but call for more than six times the amount of funding for K-12 schools than a compromise plan offered by a small group of Republican senators.The Senate and House plans both include nearly $40 billion for colleges.Altogether, $170 billion would be authorized for K-12 schools and higher education. Last year, Congress approved a total of $112 billion between two relief packages that went to K-12 schools and colleges.The bills would also provide about $39 billion to child care providers. The amount a provider receives would be based on operating expenses and is available to pay employees and rent, help families struggling to pay the cost, and purchase personal protective equipment and other supplies.Health insurance subsidies and MedicaidBoth the Senate and House bills would make federal premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act policies more generous and would eliminate the maximum income cap for two years.Enrollees would pay no more than 8.5% of their income towards coverage, down from nearly 10% now. Also, those earning more than the current cap of 400% of the federal poverty level -- about $51,000 for an individual and $104,800 for a family of four in 2021 -- would become eligible for help.In addition, the bills would bolster subsidies for lower-income enrollees, eliminating their premiums completely, and would do the same for those collecting unemployment benefits in 2021.But the Senate bill provides more assistance than the House version to those who were laid off but want to remain on their employer health insurance plans through COBRA. The Senate calls for picking up the full amount of the premium, while the House would only cover 85%, leaving the former employee to pay 15%.Both chambers would extend these subsidies through September.Also, the Senate retains the House provision that seeks to entice states that have yet to expand Medicaid to low-income adults to do so by boosting their federal Medicaid matching funds by 5 percentage points for two years.More money for small businessesBoth bills would provide $15 billion to the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan program, which provides long-term, low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration. Severely impacted small businesses with fewer than 10 workers will be given priority for some of the money.They also provide $25 billion for a new grant program specifically for bars and restaurants. Eligible businesses may receive up to $10 million and can use the money for a variety of expenses, including payroll, mortgage and rent, utilities and food and beverages.The Paycheck Protection Program, which is currently taking applications for second-round loans, would get an additional $7 billion and the bills would make more non-profit organizations eligible.Another $175 million would be used for outreach and promotion, creating a Community Navigator Program to help target eligible businesses.Vaccines and testingThe Senate and House bills provide $14 billion to research, develop, distribute, administer and strengthen confidence in vaccines. They would also put $47.8 billion toward testing, contact tracing and mitigation, including investing in laboratory capacity, community-based testing sites and mobile testing units, particularly in medically underserved areas.Both chambers would also allocate $7.7 billion to hire 100,000 public health workers to support coronavirus response.The Senate and House legislation also provide $50 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with some of the funds going toward expanding vaccination efforts.The President's plan called for investing $20 billion in a national vaccination program.Rural hospital assistanceThe Senate bill allocates $8.5 billion to help struggling rural hospitals and health care providers.The House bill did not provide any additional funding for hospitals or nursing homes, which received assistance in previous relief packages.”Don’t believe the propagandist’s bullshit. Do your own research. It is really easy to find the truth. I found this in 3 minutes with a simple search on Google.