Last Updated on February 27, 2022 by Anne-Sophie Reinhardt
Emergency Medicaid covers necessary services and cares to treat an urgent medical condition. This provision allows for temporary non-immigrants, international students, and tourists to be excluded from eligibility to receive health care. This initiative aims to help eligible but undocumented non-citizens who meet all criteria such as income proof and identity.
It is crucial to have state residency to be eligible for Medicaid coverage for urgent medical needs. Temporary non-immigrants are people who have been granted temporary entry to the United States for a specified time. They do not have to meet any state’s residency requirements to receive this emergency care. These people are under “Where Found” in the District of Fiscal Responsibility.
Who is eligible for Emergency Medicaid?
There are two types of people who are eligible to receive this special Medicaid services and include:
Undocumented Citizens
Individuals who do not have legal status but entered the United States illegally are undocumented citizens. These individuals can also be temporary immigrants who have lost their stay permits. This means that undocumented citizens don’t have valid or expired immigration documents.
Temporary Non-Immigrant
Temporary nonimmigrants are people who can enter the US temporarily for a particular purpose. These non-immigrants are eligible to receive emergency Medicaid benefits given that they enter the US for medical treatment with a medical visa.
What is considered an urgent medical condition to qualify for Emergency Medicaid?
Acute symptoms are a sign of emergency medical conditions. These conditions include these extreme severity:
- Experiencing severe health problem
- Suffering from impaired bodily functions
- Dysfunction of an organ or a part of the body
However, “emergency medical assistance” does not include organ transplants. The patient must show that the condition has suddenly developed to be eligible for these services.
If patients do not show any symptoms during treatment, this situation is not an emergency, so Medicaid will not cover it.
Not all medically-required healthcare services are in the emergency medical situation. Debilitating conditions such as heart disease or other conditions that require rehabilitation are also not emergency medical conditions.
What Healthcare Services that Emergency Medicaid not cover?
Many types of healthcare services are available to chronically ill patients. However, emergency Medicaid benefits don’t cover these services. Some are:
- Alternate care at hospitals
- Services in nursing homes, home-care including personal care services and private nurse expense, as well as home health service fees
- Rehabilitation services such as speech, occupational, and physical therapy
Medicaid also doesn’t provide emergency services that cover transportation costs for patients under the conditions above.
How long do Emergency Medicaid benefits last?
Eligible patients may have treatment coverage that lasts from a day to 15 months under the Emergency Medicaid statute. This covers the retroactive range for three months starting at the date of the application and prospective coverage for 12 months beginning at the date of the application.
This service’s authorization period may start on the first day of the third month following the month of application. This process continues until the end of the twelfth monthly.
Conclusion
Emergency Medicaid is a fast and efficient way for temporary non-immigrants who are undocumented to get urgent medical care. This program has enabled thousands of people to receive life-saving medical treatment and care in the USA.
Moreover, if any single moms are pregnant without insurance wondering if they are eligible for Emergency Medicaid, please find more information in our article “Pregnant with No Insurance and don’t Qualify for Medicaid – What Now?”
