"IowaCare" Program's Affordable Health Care at Broadlawns and the University of Iowa
by: Legal Hotline for Older Iowans
IowaCare is a state program that can provide low-cost health care to many Iowans. You may be eligible if:
- you are between 19 and 65
- your household income is less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and
- you do not have other health insurance.
This means that for 2007, your household income must be less than the following:
| Persons in Household |
Monthly Income Limit |
| One |
$1,702 |
| Two |
$2,282 |
| Three |
$2,862 |
| Four |
$3,442 |
Pregnant women can be eligible at even higher levels of income. Contact your local Iowa Department of Human Services or local Iowa Legal Aid office for details.
IowaCare may charge you a monthly premium depending on your income. For 2007, the premium for a one person household is between $0 per month for a low-income household and $80 per month for a household close to the upper limit. For a two-person household, the premium can be from $0 to about $114 per month. For example, if you and your spouse are both 60 years old, do not have health insurance and your total household income is $1,800 per month, then you should both be eligible for IowaCare. The monthly premium would be about $90 each. This is very reasonable when you compare it to the $93.50 monthly cost of Medicare Part B. In addition, IowaCare would generally provide more coverage.
The IowaCare program covers many medical and dental services. IowaCare also covers some prescription drug benefits. Most of the time you must go to either Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines or the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. Broadlawns only provides services if you live in Polk County. Anyone can go to the University of Iowa. There are FREE TRANSPORTATION services to get you there. Some mental health services are provided at the state Mental Health Institutes. They are located in Cherokee, Clarinda, Independence and Mt. Pleasant. Pregnant women can receive services at other locations.
If you want to apply for this program, contact your local Iowa Department of Human Services office. If you are denied, you have the right to appeal. Note this is a general summary of this program. There are other rules and exceptions that may apply. For more information, you should contact your local Iowa Department of Human Services office. You can call your local Iowa Legal Aid office for general assistance or for help with an appeal. If you are between 60 and 65, you can also contact the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans at 1-800-992-8161.
This information is from the Legal Hotline for Older Iowans 1-800-992-8161. The Hotline is a project of Iowa Legal Aid that is partially funded by the U.S. Administration on Aging. The Hotline is a free, confidential service for all Iowans 60 or older with questions on non-criminal legal matters.
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