| There are many factors which are taken into | | | | Medicaid program to pay for over 40 percent of births |
| consideration when evaluating a person for Medicaid | | | | found in America. All pregnant women of any age are |
| qualifications. The program is limited to those persons | | | | eligible for Medicaid in the event that their incomes are |
| who fall into certain categories. According to federal | | | | below the 133 percent rating established for the |
| guidelines there are approximately 25 different | | | | federal poverty level. This coverage includes all time |
| categories which are available. These categories | | | | being pregnant as well as for a 60 days period |
| range from children to the non-disabled adults who are | | | | afterwards. |
| under the age of 65. In some cases these categories | | | | Lastly, we have the adults in the families with |
| tend to overlap one and other ultimately allowing a | | | | dependent children. Unlike the other two categories of |
| person to qualify under more then one category. | | | | children or pregnant women the non-disabled adults fail |
| As an example you could have a five year old child | | | | to have the major benefit of a vast Medicaid eligibility |
| who may be qualified as a poverty related child, he or | | | | which is usually tied closely to the federal poverty level. |
| she may be a dependent child within a welfare eligibility | | | | Those adults that are not disabled, elderly or pregnant |
| family or perhaps as a child of welfare to work type | | | | can only qualify for Medicaid if they are actually an |
| of family. In the event that this child also has some sort | | | | adult located in a family that has dependent children. |
| of disability then they may also qualify as a child who | | | | In all reality those Medicaid categories mentioned |
| receives SSI benefits. It is this vast number of different | | | | above tend to exclude millions of poor people from the |
| categories involved with Medicaid which make it such | | | | Medicaid program with no regard what so ever to the |
| a complicated program to work with. | | | | actual degree of poverty or medical necessity. |
| In essence there are generally five major categories | | | | Women who may not be pregnant, they may not be |
| of coverage eligibility. They are children, adults in | | | | disabled or elderly, nor have dependent children are |
| families with dependent children, pregnant women, | | | | completely excluded. The same situation applies to |
| elderly and disabled individuals. This article will briefly | | | | those men who may be living in poverty. |
| focus upon three out of these five categories. Those | | | | Even though one must qualify under a specific eligibility |
| groups being the children, those women who are | | | | category they are not automatically accepted. They |
| pregnant and the adults of families with dependent | | | | would still need to qualify under the income provision |
| children. | | | | as well. This type of requirement takes the form of |
| Let's start with children. There are currently over 41 | | | | income tests including ones assets and resource. |
| million people who are enrolled in the Medicaid program | | | | Naturally the actual financial requirements may vary |
| and approximately half are children. The usual | | | | slightly from one category to the next. |
| category of eligibility for these children is a parent who | | | | As mention there are many factors which come into |
| falls under an income below the federal threshold of | | | | pay involving Medicaid eligibility and each factor must |
| poverty level. | | | | be reviewed on its own merits. |
| Pregnant Women on the other hand rely upon the | | | | |