How does Maryland Medicaid work? If you live in Maryland and are considering how to find coverage for your healthcare needs, you may be interested in looking into Maryland Medicaid. You may qualify for Medicaid based on a number of factors about your current financial and family situation, so it is best to figure out whether you qualify so that you can begin the application process as soon as possible. You can seek medical care even while you wait for your Medicaid insurance card, so begin the application as soon as you are able so that you can begin receiving treatment.
What Is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a health insurance program that is designed to support people who may not typically have access to other coverage. These include pregnant women, children, and single adults whose income is within qualifying thresholds. With Medicaid, you can receive care similar to what you would receive with other health insurance plans, including prescriptions, primary and specialist care, and hospital care.
What Does Maryland Medicaid Cover?
In order to understand what is covered by Medicaid, you will need to examine the covered benefits offered by your MCO (managed care organization). Typically, doctor visits, care related to pregnancy, emergency services, and prescriptions are available at no cost to you. However, your MCO may offer additional covered services or benefits, so it is important that you check your plan to understand what is covered for you.
How Maryland Medicaid Works
Applying for and receiving Medicaid in Maryland is a multi-step process. First, you will need to file your application online at Maryland’s electronic portal, Maryland Health Connection. You will be asked for your personal information, and you may need to provide certain documents to prove your income or family status in order to qualify.
The Health Connection system may be able to retrieve your documentation for you and let you know immediately if you qualify; if it is unable to do so, you will be granted temporary Medicaid benefits for 90 days to give you time to submit physical copies.
Receive Medicaid Care Card
Once you are approved for Medicaid, the first thing that will occur is that you will receive a red and white card in the mail. It is very important that you do not throw this card away. This is your insurance card, and you will need it in order to share your insurance information with doctors. However, you are able to visit doctors even if you have not received your card in the mail yet. Any doctor or pharmacist can confirm your Medicaid information by calling the Eligibility Verification System.
Once you have received your red and white insurance card, you will have the opportunity to choose your managed care organization. This will influence which benefits are covered for you and which doctors are in your network. If you are currently the patient of a specific doctor and would like to continue to use their services, be sure to check that the MCO you choose includes them in their network. The currently managed care organizations that you can pick are:
- Aetna Better Health of Maryland
- AMERIGROUP Community Care
- Jai Medical Systems
- Kaiser Permanente
- Maryland Physicians Care
- MedStar Family Choice
- Priority Partners
- UnitedHealthcare
- University of Maryland Health Partners
If you elect not to choose an MCO, one will be assigned for you. You may change your MCO at any time during the first 90 days after enrollment.
Renew Your Coverage Once a Year or Elect for Automatic Renewal
Once you have determined your MCO, keep track of when your Medicaid is set to expire, and be sure to renew it each year. Some individuals are eligible for automatic renewal, and others have specific processes that they must go through in order to renew. Groups with unique renewal processes include those who are 65 years of age or older, foster children, and disabled people, among others.
Be sure to check what your personal requirements are for annual renewal. Most people can renew via phone at (410) 500-4710 or visit a local office location. Maryland also offers a Medicaid app called Enroll MHC, which will allow you to renew, upload documents, and perform other important tasks related to your Medicaid.
Speak to Insight Treatment Center for Assistance With Maryland Medicaid
If you need assistance in determining whether you qualify for Medicaid, or if you need help with your Medicaid application, it is important that you bring your questions to the experts. Insight Treatment Center can provide guidance on what you need to do next with your Medicaid application. If you need help affording the costs of healthcare and treatment, Insight can offer you the direction you need in order to begin the Medicaid process and receive the care you need. Call us at (301) 264-8924 or contact us online to get started today.
