The Institute on Public Policy for People with Disabilities

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NEW PROGRAM ENCOURAGES WORK WHILE KEEPING MEDICAID  

The Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services (formerly DPA) has announced that Illinois has joined 28 other states in providing Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD).  The goal of this program is to help people with disabilities return to work but still retain their full Medicaid health care benefits.  This would not only allow enrollees to return to work but would enable those working to increase their hours without losing Medicaid coverage.

 
An individual with a disability between the ages of 16 and 64 could qualify for HBWD.  Workers with countable income of up to $1,595 per month for a single person and $2,138 a month for a couple may qualify for the program.  Also, unlike other Medicaid programs, enrollees may keep up to $10,000 in assets.  Depending upon their income, enrollees pay a monthly premium ranging from $1 to $100 to receive the full range of Medicaid services.
 
You may download an application by going to: http://www.hbwdillinois.com/application.html. 
 
For more information, call the Department's hotline at 1-800-226-0768 (TTY1-866-675-8440) or call Pat Curtis, who is in charge of the program at:    217-558-4534. Her email address is: AIDH20A2@idpa.state.il.us.