Good health is important to everyone, but with skyrocketing medical costs and a slumping economy now is harder than ever to pay for good quality Health Care. If you can't afford to pay for medical care right now, Medicaid can help provide the resources necessary to ensure you and your family have a long and healthy life
Medicaid is a state run program for low-income individuals and families. Many groups of people can gain access to Medicaid as long as they meet certain requirements set forth by their State's Medicaid administration. Medicaid requirements can include age, whether or not you are pregnant, disabled, your financial standing or if you are a US citizen.
SC Medicaid Agency To Add 70,000 Kids To Program
October 27, 2011
With the anticipation of the results of the Medicaid reform, more families are worried about whether or not they will be able to get the financial and medical support they need by 2014.
Tony Keck, director of the South Carolina Medicaid agency has included a request for $35 million from the state in his 2012-13 proposal. This money will be used to pay for the medical needs of an estimated 70,000 children newly enrolled in the Medicaid program.
Keck believes this proposal will help South Carolina prepare for the results of the new federal health care law, which will be taking effect in 2014. Critics believe Medicaid expansion will withstand the decision made by the U.S. Supreme Court or whoever wins the 2012 elections. So this request is mainly being pursued to prepare for the “minimum expected scenario” where South Carolina will have enough money to reach out to the 70,000 uninsured children and provide them with proper Medicaid assistance.
Along with the budget proposal, Keck also proposed an “express lane eligibility” program. This will make the application faster, as more people are expected to apply for Medicaid.
Keck reported that around 89,000, up to 56,000 already-eligible adults without insurance also would sign up for Medicaid in 2014. If the state does not do anything, the increase will be felt, as Medicaid will not only have to pay for those newly eligible under the law, but also for those previously eligible.