The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is seeking new applicants for several grant areas and for its transformative Institute for Community Health Leadership.
Approximately 31,000 Commonwealth Care members who are legal immigrants could lose their Commonwealth Care coverage as of August 1, 2009. A helpful tip sheet and checklist from the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) can help you figure out who may still be eligible.
Commonwealth Care members who live in areas where more than one health plan is offered may change their plans between May 25 and June 25, 2009.
Overall, standards for 2009 are less stringent than they were in 2008.
A know-your-rights flyer from Community Partners explains new MassHealth copay increases and reminds members that even when they cannot pay the copay at the counter, the pharmacy is required to dispense their prescriptions.
As an attorney at Western Massachusetts Legal Services, I helped many clients appeal and prove their status as "permanently and totally disabled" in order to be determined eligible for MassHealth. Over the past year or so, I noticed that there was a significant drop in the number of people calling me about appealing their MassHealth disability determinations. While this could be a result of many different factors, I tend to think it is because people are found eligible for Commonwealth Care instead, and therefore do not appeal the disability determination for MassHealth.
Massachusetts residents born in-state can more easily verify citizenship.
Final regulations for “minimum creditable coverage” (MCC) tighten up the individual mandate beginning in 2009.
New guidance helps identify immigrants eligible for benefits.
Changes in premiums and co-pays should influence choices.
