New HELP plan open for Medicaid enrollment
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MONTANA — Montana has become 30th state to expand Medicaid as Governor Bullock announced Nov. 2 that CMS approved the federal waiver for Medicaid expansion needed for state officials to start immediate enrollment in and begin coverage on Jan. 1.
Within hours of the announcement, 80 applications had already been submitted for the Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership Act, known as the HELP Program, passed in the 2015 Montana legislative session.
The governor’s office has estimated that the HELP Program will expand access to health coverage for more than 70,000 new adults with incomes up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. That means individuals who make less than about $16,000 a year, or less than $33,000 for a family of four.
The plan covers doctor, hospital and emergency care; prescription drugs, dental, vision, lab work, mental health and maternity (as long as applicant is not currently pregnant). The plan even covers transportation to appointments.
Applications can be taken online at healthcare.gov or apply.mt.gov, or over the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the Federal Marketplace, 1-800-318-2596.
It is anticipated that 20,000 to 25,000 people will enroll in the first year of the expansion program.
The goals of the HELP Program are to increase the availability of high-quality health care to Montanans, provide greater value for the tax dollars spent on the Montana Medicaid Program, reduce health care costs, provide incentives that encourage Montanans to take greater responsibility for their personal health and reduce the costs of uncompensated care and the resulting cost-shifting to patients with health insurance.
More information can be found at the state website http://dphhs.mt.gov/medicaidexpansion.
