IowaCare Health Insurance Program
by: Iowa Legal Aid
What is the IowaCare Program?
IowaCare is a new program. It started in Iowa on July 1, 2005. IowaCare provides medical care to lower-income Iowans and is part of Medicaid. It replaces the State Papers Program. The IowaCare program may give many more Iowans access to inpatient and outpatient hospital services.
Who is eligible?
Adults who are between 19 and 64 years of age may be able to get help. Income must be less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Some pregnant women and newborns in families with household incomes of 300% FPL may qualify if deductions for medical bills reduce family income to 200% or less.
Where does IowaCare provide health care?
Patients will get care at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City or Broadlawns in Des Moines. Only people who live in Polk County can get care at Broadlawns. The program should let 14,000 to 30,000 Iowans get care at these two hospitals. Medicaid may pay the cost of services at state mental hospitals. The hospitals are located in Cherokee, Clarinda, Mt. Pleasant and Independence.
Is IowaCare the same as other Medicaid programs?
The IowaCare program is different from other Medicaid programs. One of the big changes is you have to pay an insurance premium.
How much does it cost?
The amount of the premium depends on household income.
| Adjusted Household Income |
Premium |
| Less than the Federal Poverty Level |
$1-$14 per month
|
| 100%-200% of the Federal Poverty Level |
$24-$75 per month |
Note: As of June 2005, 100% FPL is $1,613/month for a family of four.
Does everyone have to pay?
You may not have to pay a premium if you have a hardship.
How Do I apply for IowaCare?
Contact your local Department of Human Services office. You may also apply by going to the website www.ime.state.ia.us/docs/IowaCareApp.pdf
What if I need help to apply for services?
If you need help to apply for benefits, call toll-free 1-800-338-8366 or (515) 725-1009 Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Broadlawns also have the form you need to fill out to apply.
Are there any limits on how many people IowaCare can help?
The help IowaCare can provide is limited by how much funding it gets from the state. Some people may not get help if the program runs out of money.
What if I have questions or problems with IowaCare?
The IowaCare program is new. There are likely to be some kinks to work out in the program. For details on the IowaCare program, contact your local Department of Human Services office. You may view the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise web site at www.ime.state.ia.us/IowaCare/index.html .
You may also contact Iowa Legal Aid. Free legal help may be available if you apply for the program and are denied. Call 1-800-532-1275 to find out which Iowa Legal Aid office serves your county. Iowa Legal Aid also has a large collection of resources on health care issues. Go to the Iowa Legal Aid Website at Iowalegalaid.org, select "Legal Information and Other Resources." Then go to the Health topic for details.
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