Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

To get health coverage through Medicaid Purchase, you must

 Have a severe disability (one that matches Social Security standards; see http://www.socialsecurity.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook for Social Security's disability criteria.)
Work

• Be at least age 16 but not yet age 65;
• Have countable monthly income that is less than $2,394;
• Have countable assets that are less than $25,000;
• Take other health insurance coverage, if you can get it at no cost to you;
• Pay a premium when your countable monthly income is more than $1,437.

Medicaid counts less than half of the money you earn (work for) and all but $20 of any other money you get. Medicaid does not count your spouse's income when determining income eligibility. Income limits go up each year in April.

This plan gives full medical coverage that includes:

• Prescription drugs,      
• Hospital careDoctor services,      
• Medical equipment and supplies,    
• Medical transportation

 Please note that prescription drugs are not covered by Medicaid if you also have Medicare.

You just need to  fill out the application form, online or printable, get the needed information together and mail or bring the form and information to the Medicaid office in your region as soon as possible.

You will need to give us your:

• Social Security number
• Proof of your total income for the last month.
• Medicare and any other health insurance card; and
• Alien registration card or immigration papers, if you are not a U.S. citizen.

Send copies of as many of these items as soon as you can. Do not wait to send in the form. We can give you more time to give us any missing information after we get your application.

Assets are things like:

• Bank accounts;
• Stocks, bonds, and other cash resources;
• Cars, trucks, boats,  and other vehicles;
• Property, including heir or estate property; and
• Anything else you own.

Your home, one vehicle, any life insurance policies, medical savings and retirement accounts, and your spouse’s share of any community property will not count toward your eligibility for this program.

Your “premium” (what you pay each month) is based on your countable income – not your age or health condition.

Countable Income                          Monthly Premium

Less than $1,397                              $0
$1,398 to $1,862                               $80
$1,863 to $2,328                               $110

You will get a letter from the local Medicaid office that tells you how much you owe when you are first approved and then again any time there is a change in your monthly premium.

If you are required to pay for your coverage, you will get a bill each month for your premium.

Payments can be sent to:

        Office of Group Benefits
               PO Box 66127
        Baton Rouge, LA  70896-6127