| Health
Care
If you don’t have health insurance
or are struggling to pay your health care costs, there are
programs that can help you. Check the list below to see
which plan applies to you. If you are eligible for food
stamps, it’s likely that you will qualify for one
of these programs.
MassHealth, Healthy Start, and the Children’s
Medical Security Plan
If you are a Massachusetts resident and you need
health coverage, you may be able to enroll in the MassHealth
Program. Eligibility is based on your family size, income
and other factors. When you apply you do not need to
know which specific program you want. MassHealth staff
will review your application and place you in the best program
for which you are eligible.
Generally, MassHealth provides coverage for low-income
people who are:
· children (including immigrants)
· parents or care-takers
· long-term (one year or more) unemployed adults
· HIV positive
· disabled
· pregnant
If you are a working parent, MassHealth
also offers programs that help you pay for all or part of
your current premiums. If you are working and no health
insurance is provided, you may also be eligible to enroll
in MassHealth.
If you don’t qualify for MassHealth:
If your income is too high for
MassHealth but your children still don’t have health
insurance, your children can qualify for the Children’s
Medical Security Plan, which provides coverage for primary
and preventive care services. There are no income limits
for this program, and no social security number is required.
If you are an immigrant, MassHealth
may provide emergency coverage, and your children may be
eligible for the Children’s Medical Security Plan,
which provides preventive coverage. (No social security
number required). If you are an immigrant and you are pregnant,
you may qualify for the Healthy Start Program (no social
security number required).
Free Care: If you are a low-income adult
or child, you may also be eligible for services provided
by “Free Care.” To apply, contact your local
hospital or health center, or fill out an MBR. No social
security number is required.
All of the programs listed above require the same
application. To apply for any of the above, fill
out a MassHealth Benefits Request Form (MBR). Call 1-888-665-9993
to learn more.
If you are a woman with breast or cervical cancer,
you may be eligible to receive health insurance
or other assistance through the Women’s Breast
and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program; call 1-888-665-9993
to learn more.
If you are pregnant or are the parent of infants
or children under 5 years old, you could also
qualify for WIC (Women Infants & Children
Supplemental Nutrition Program). WIC offers healthy food
for women and small children, prenatal care, immunizations
and nutrition education. Call 1-800-WIC-1007 or click
here for more information.
Does your child have mental health needs? Call the Parent
Resource Network Line at 1-866-815-8122 for resources
and referrals for children with mental health needs.
If you are getting unemployment benefits:
Apply for the Medical Security Plan for
you and your family. Call 1-800-914-4455.
If you are disabled:
Apply for CommonHealth, which is a program
for disabled adults and children with any income level.
Call 1-888-665-8285.
If you are self-employed or work for a small business:
Apply to the Insurance Partnership, which
can help you pay for health insurance. Call 1-800-399-8285.
Center Care is a program provided by some
Community Health Centers. Contact your local health center
for more information, or call 1-800-475-8455.
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Help with Prescription Drug Costs
The MassMedline hotline can help you to
figure out if you are eligible for any kind of prescription
drug assistance programs. MassMedline counselors can answer
your questions about any prescriptions or medications you
are taking and tell you whether you are using them correctly.
Call 1-866-633-1617 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Do you have questions about
any of these programs or have other questions about health
care?
Call the Health
Care For All Helpline at 1-800-272-4232.
Other Resources
Boston Residents
If you live in Boston, click
here to get more information about low-cost and no-cost
health care resources in the Boston area.
Medicare and the Prescription Drug
Plan
Do you have questions about the federal government’s
prescription drug program for seniors? Click
here to get more information about the plans to choose
from and about the $600 credit you could receive. The $600
credit will not affect your food stamps benefit. Click
here to read more about food stamps and the prescription
drug plan.
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