MassHealth Limited Health Insurance for Undocumented Immigrants in Massachusetts

MassHealth Limited offers limited health insurance coverage to certain individuals, including undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts. This coverage is available through the Health Safety Net program.

Undocumented immigrants are eligible for MassHealth Limited if they meet specific income requirements, which vary based on family size and composition. For example, a single person must have an income below $1,063 per month to qualify.

MassHealth Limited provides essential health benefits, including doctor visits, hospital care, and prescription medications, but it does not cover long-term care or dental services.

MassHealth Limited is a type of coverage available to people 65 and older who meet the income and asset rules for MassHealth Standard or MassHealth Family Assistance, but have an immigration status that keeps them from getting MassHealth Standard or Family Assistance.

MassHealth Limited coverage is for emergency medical services only, and it doesn't pay for long-term-care services. This means that it's designed to help people in crisis situations, not for ongoing medical care.

MassHealth Limited covers only care for medical emergencies, which are conditions that could cause serious harm if not treated. Examples of covered services include inpatient hospital services for emergency situations, outpatient hospital services for emergency visits to emergency departments, and certain medical services provided by doctors and clinics outside of a hospital.

Here are some examples of covered services under MassHealth Limited:

To apply for MassHealth, you can start by calling the MassHealth Customer Service Center at 800-841-2900 or 800-497-4648 (TTY) to request a Medical Benefit Request (MBR).

You can also mail your application to the MassHealth Enrollment Center at P.O. Box 290794, Charlestown, MA 02129-0214.

If you're a senior or need long-term-care services, you'll need to complete the Long-Term-Care Supplement of the MassHealth Application.

To enroll in a health plan, you first need to choose and enroll in a plan, which will determine your premium contribution and provide health coverage.

You must select a health plan and pay the first month's premium (if any) by the 23rd of the month to have coverage on the 1st of the next month.

If your income is low, you may not have to pay a premium and will just have to select a plan by the 23rd.

Here are the key deadlines to keep in mind:

Once you're enrolled in MassHealth, you may have to take action to stay enrolled, as MassHealth will check to see if you still qualify at least once a year.

MassHealth offers a variety of coverage types, including MassHealth Standard, MassHealth CommonHealth, and MassHealth Family Assistance.

You can choose from several MassHealth coverage types, such as MassHealth Basic, MassHealth Essential, and MassHealth Prenatal.

MassHealth coverage types for seniors and people who need long-term-care services include Standard, Family Assistance, Limited, Senior Buy-In, and Buy-In.

MassHealth offers a range of coverage types to suit different needs. You can choose from MassHealth Standard, CommonHealth, Family Assistance, Basic, Essential, Prenatal, Limited, Senior Buy-In, and Buy-In.

If you're looking for a basic plan, MassHealth Basic might be the way to go. It's designed to provide essential coverage for eligible individuals.

MassHealth Standard is another option, offering a wider range of benefits than the basic plan. This plan is ideal for those who need more comprehensive coverage.

For those with more complex needs, MassHealth Limited might be a better fit. This plan provides additional support and services for eligible individuals.

Here's a quick rundown of the coverage types offered by MassHealth:

MassHealth offers five coverage types for eligible seniors and people who need long-term care services. These types are Standard, Family Assistance, Limited, Senior Buy-In, and Buy-In.

Your eligibility for MassHealth coverage depends on factors like income, citizenship or immigration status, age, and special circumstances. You must be a Massachusetts resident to qualify.

MassHealth will determine which program or coverage type you're eligible for when you complete the Massachusetts Application for Health Coverage for Seniors and People Needing Long-Term-Care Services (SACA-2).

Massachusetts' model for undocumented immigrant health insurance is a unique approach that has been adopted by other states.

The Massachusetts Health Care Reform Act of 2006 allowed undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance, but not to access Medicaid or other public programs.

This provision was included in the law to ensure that everyone in the state has access to some form of health insurance, regardless of their immigration status.

Undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts can purchase health insurance through the state's Health Connector, which offers a range of plans at different price points.

The cost of these plans can be a barrier for some undocumented immigrants, but there are also options for financial assistance and subsidies.

Some community health centers and non-profit organizations also offer sliding scale fees or other forms of financial assistance to make health care more affordable for undocumented immigrants.

Individuals who are found eligible for ConnectorCare and Limited may be confused about their coverage due to language issues or the complexity of the process.

Limited covers only emergencies, so it's essential to take further action to enroll in ConnectorCare during open enrollment.

An infant born to a mother eligible for Limited will be automatically enrolled in MassHealth Standard effective on the date of birth.

Limited eligibility will be retroactive 10 days prior to the date of application for those under 65 or up to 3 months retroactive from the month of application for those 65 or older.

Limited will be available to cover emergency services even after full Health Safety Net coverage has expired for those who do not enroll in ConnectorCare.

In some cases, it may be possible to obtain a special enrollment period or a waiver from the Office of Patient Protections to enable the individual to enroll in ConnectorCare.