PRESUMPTIVE eligibility for Medicaid has been extended until April 2022 for the CNMI, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. announced Wednesday.
This eligibility offers individuals and their family immediate access to healthcare while they apply for regular Medicaid or other health coverage.
Presumptive eligibility for Medicaid coverage can immediately be used for Medicaid covered services, such as doctor visits, hospital care, and some prescription drugs.
Individuals under presumptive eligibility for Medicaid coverage may visit any health care provider that accepts Medicaid, beginning on the day that they are approved for presumptive eligibility.
Together with Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance program or CHIP, the application of presumptive eligibility increased federal healthcare coverage in the Marianas amid a still raging pandemic.
Presumptive eligibility has also allowed Head Start providers, schools, and other community organizations to screen for eligibility and immediately enroll children who appear to meet the criteria to receive care.
Individuals and families are eligible for Medicaid if their attested gross income does not exceed 180% of the Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, federal benefit, which is $28,800 annually for a family of four, CHCC said.
CHCC is designated as a qualified entity to conduct presumptive eligibility determinations.
Those enrolled through the presumptive eligibility process receive the same benefits as other enrollees, but only while the public health emergency is in effect.
Unless you complete the full Medicaid application and enroll in coverage the traditional way, your Medicaid coverage will cease when the public health emergency is no longer in effect, CHCC said.
Enrolling into Medicaid through Presumptive Eligibility does impact an individual’s eligibility for permanent resident status in the future, CHCC added.
Receiving public benefits such as Medicaid does not automatically make an alien ineligible to become a lawful permanent resident, CHCC said.
For more information, contact the Care and Resource Assistance at (670) 234-8950 ext. 3502.
