Health Care Coverage for Haitian Nationals
There are three main groups of Haitian nationals who may present for medical care. Here is a summary of their eligibility for health care coverage in Massachusetts.
-Adapted from “Virtual Gateway process for patients coming from Haiti” e-mail February 04, 2010 and “ IMPORTANT UPDATE: Virtual Gateway process for patients coming from Haiti” e-mail Feburary 16, 2010, both from Kim Simonian, MPH, Associate Director, Patient Access, Partners Health Care Community Benefit Programs.
- Medical evacuees are Haitians who were injured in the earthquake and are being screened and evacuated to U.S. hospitals via the federal government. Massachusetts has not yet received any of these patients and is not expecting to.
- Haitians who were injured in the earthquake who make their way to our hospitals via informal methods, including transfers from non-governmental organizations like Partners in Health. These individuals will most certainly arrive with no health coverage. The state has indicated that there are no new eligibility policies applicable to individuals who are arriving from Haiti. Patient financial counselors should follow the process of submitting a Virtual Gateway application, but applicants will qualify only for MassHealth Limited, Healthy Start if pregnant, Health Safety Net, or Children's Medical Security Plan. This means no coverage for post acute care or services.
- Haitians who were in the U.S. at the time of the earthquake are the group that is now eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status. For adults, at this time, TPS has no bearing on their eligibility for state coverage; they will still only qualify for MassHealth Limited and/or Health Safety Net. Children, however, who receive TPS will qualify for MassHealth Family Assistance if they are below 200% FPL. Children above that level will qualify for Children's Medical Security Plan.
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