Brian Forsythe, Benefits Specialist, Resource Partnership
The topic of health insurance is critical for anyone who is looking to return to work. If you receive SSI, you automatically receive MassHealth Standard. If you receive SSDI, you receive Medicare after you have been on benefits for two years. Can you get MassHealth if you receive SSDI or if you are not receiving either SSI or SSDI? The answer is yes.
If you receive SSDI and your income is below $1,132 per month for a single person, then you will receive MassHealth Standard at no cost to you. However, if your monthly income is above $1,132 you may want to look into CommonHealth.
CommonHealth is a Massachusetts health care program for adults who are disabled and working (and also children who are disabled). To be eligible for CommonHealth you must be either working forty hours per month at any rate of pay or you must meet a one-time deductible, equal to approximately six months of your income. To meet the deductible, you must accrue paid or unpaid medical expenses equal to or greater than your deductible amount within a six-month period. If you can meet this deductible you will be awarded CommonHealth and you will not have to work forty hours per month. In both cases CommonHealth carries a sliding scale monthly premium. You cannot be turned down for CommonHealth because of your family's income. You’ll just pay a higher premium.
If you are not receiving SSI or SSDI, you can still obtain MassHealth coverage. The application process is fairly simple; call MassHealth at 1-800-841-2900 and ask for and submit an application and a Disability Supplemental Form.
If MassHealth determines that you have a disability you will be awarded either MassHealth Standard, if your monthly income is below $1,132 per month, or CommonHealth, if your income is higher and you are either working forty hours per month or are able to meet the one-time deductible.
For more information on MassHealth or CommonHealth or how working may affect your Social Security benefits, contact Brian Forsythe, Benefits Specialist at brian@resourcepartnership.org or 508-647-1722 ext. 14.
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