Every state has its own Medicaid program. The West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services administers the Medicaid program. It is fairly easy to find out about what Medicaid covers, how to apply, and the eligibility program from its website.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It provides coverage for individuals and families who are low income and who cannot afford to purchase health insurance coverage from a private insurer. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also funded by the government of an individual state.
In West Virginia, the Medicaid program is administered by the West Virginia Bureau for Medical Services. It is rather easy to discover basic information about eligibility requirements for Medicaid from the state’s website.
Eligibility for Medicaid in West Virginia is based on categorical relatedness, income, and assets. These criteria do not apply in the case of women who are pregnant or in the case of children who are up to 19 years of age.
What is categorical relatedness? It means that the applicant must be a member of a family with a child who is “deprived of support due to the absence, incapacity, or unemployment of a parent(s).” What if an adult does not have any children who are under the age of 18? That person cannot qualify for Medicaid unless he or she is over the age of 65 or is blind or disabled.
Another factor that is considered for eligibility is the person’s income and assets. The state of West Virginia defines income and “any money a family or individual receives such as wages, pensions, retirement benefits or support payments”. Assets can include the money the person or family has in the bank, property other than the homestead, and the cash or loan value of certain life insurance policies.
As I mentioned a bit earlier, the eligibility requirements for pregnant women, and for children who are under the age of 19, is a bit different. These groups will have their eligibility determined solely on income. There is no asset test for for these groups. Pregnant women will have to provide a medical statement that confirms their pregnancy.
People who are already receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will automatically be eligible for Medicaid. Everyone else needs to apply for Medicaid benefits. To do this, you are going to have to bring your completed application to your local office of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. It is recommended that you call for an appointment first.
Medicaid covers a variety of services. Some include: physicians’ services, hospital inpatient care, outpatient hospital services, emergency room services, labs an x-rays that are prescribed by an authorized practitioner, prescribed drugs, eye care services, care in nursing facilities, a limited amount of dental care, family planning services, outpatient mental health services, and more.
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