Insurance
Healthcare AssistanceMedicaid
Medicaid is a government-funded health care coverage plan. It provides insurance to low income and medically vulnerable people. Cuyahoga County residents, who are eligible for Medicaid, are entitled to medical services at no or low cost. [If need be, it can be retroactively applied for 3 months.] After one is approved, the client picks a MCP (managed care plan) to receive their medical care from. Any adult, ages 19-64, is eligible for Medicaid if their income is less than or equal to 138% of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline (see “Income Guidelines” under benefits for user-friendly chart).
Healthy Start (Children’s Health Insurance Program, CHIP)
Healthy Start provides free health insurance for children of in families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low for afford private coverage. Any child, ages 0 – 19, is eligible if your income is less than or equal to 206% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines (see “Income Guidelines” under “Benefits” for user-friendly chart to check eligibility).
Children enrolled in Healthy Start receive services through a Managed Care Plan (MCP). Parents choose the best one for their family based on the selection of doctors, hospitals, and locations offered by each MCP.
Medicaid for Pregnant Women
Pregnant women in families with income up to 200% the Federal Poverty Level, are eligible for Medicaid. You do not need to be a US Citizen to be eligible. Women can receive prenatal and postnatal services. Some women with breast and/or cervical cancer are also eligible.
Blind & Disabled (ABD) Medicaid
Blind & Disabled (ABD) Medicaid works out of the Specialized Medicaid Benefit Center (SMBC ) and is for older adults and individuals with disabilities. SMBC is a service center within the Cuyahoga County Department of Employment and Family Services. Ohio Medicaid offers a span of programs for older adults and people with disabilities to assist with medical expenses. These programs provide health care coverage consisting of primary and acute-care benefit packages along with long-term care. Working Ohioans with disabilities may be interested in the Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities program. To be considered eligible, the applicant must be age 65 or older, considered legally blind, or an individual with a disability (as classified by the Social Security Administration).
Contact Information
Jane Edna Hunter Building (Southgate location; neighborhood family services)
3955 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
Medicaid Consumer Hotline
1-844-640-6446
Specialized Medicaid Benefits Center (SMBC) Hotline
1-800-324-8680