Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD) is a Medicaid coverage group implemented to allow persons with disabilities to work and continue to have access to medical assistance. A brochure of the following text in PDF format may be downloaded by clicking here.
Are You Eligible?
To Qualify
-
- Social Security Disability; or if your
- Social Security Disability benefits have stopped due to earned income but you continue to be eligible for Medicare.
- If you are not receiving these benefits you may also qualify as disabled if your disability meets the medical criteria used to establish disability for benefits administered by the Social Security Administration. The Department of Human Services will make a determination about your medical impairments.
- You must be disabled. If you receive the following you will be considered disabled for MEPD:
- You must be under age 65.
- You must have earned income from employment or self-employment.
- Monthly net family income must be less than 250% of the federal poverty level for your family size. 250% of the federal poverty level for a family size of one is currently $2,167 per month. Net income is your gross family income less exclusions and disregards
- You will be required to pay a monthly premium when your monthly gross income is above 150% of the federal poverty level (currently $1,300). (Premiums are calculated based only on the gross income of the MEPD member.) Premiums must be paid before you can receive Medicaid.
- Your countable resources must be $12,000 or less for an individual and $13,000 or less for a couplet
Some resources are exempt from consideration for all SSI-related Medicaid coverage groups.
There are additional resources owned by the MEPD applicant or MEPD member that are exempt from consideration for eligibility for MEPD. They are:
- Retirement accounts such as simplified employee pension plans, self-employment pension plans, Keogh plans, individual retirement accounts, Roth individual retirement accounts, savings incentive matched plans for employees and similar plans for retirement.
- Funds in assistive technology accounts, which are funds saved for the purchase, lease or acquisition of assistive technology, assistive technology devices, or assistive technology services. To be exempt a physician, certified vocational rehabilitation counselor, licensed physical therapist, licensed speech therapist, or licensed occupational therapist must establish the need for such technology and that the technology can reasonably be expected to enhance the individual's employment.
- Funds placed in a medical savings account that is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to Section 220 of the United States Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. � 220).
7. You must meet all other eligibility criteria for SSI-related Medicaid.
8. You will receive a Notice of Decision that will tell you the amount of your premium and the twelve-month premium period.
9. A set premium amount is established for twelve months at a time.
- The premium amount cannot be increased due to an increase in income in the twelve-month period.
- The premium amount can be decreased if income goes down.
What happens when I have to pay a premium?
A billing statement will be sent to you with all months for which you have been approved and there is a payment due.
What happens when I do not pay the premiums?
If you do not pay an ongoing month premium by the due date, your eligibility will be cancelled. You will have to file a new application to get eligibility again.
Premiums may be paid in advance.
How do I find out if I qualify?
To find out if you qualify for this coverage group, you must file a Medicaid application at your county Iowa Department of Human Services office and complete the application process.
To find out the amount of premium you would be expected to pay, total your gross earned income and your gross unearned income and compare the amount to the chart below.
Remember that if you are required to pay a premium, your premium must be paid by the due date in order to receive Medicaid coverage.
MEPD PREMIUM CHART - (Revised 8/01/2009)
| If monthly gross income of the disabled person is above: | The monthly premium is:
|
| 150% of federal poverty level ($1,354) | $25 |
| 180% of federal poverty level ($1,625) | $40 |
| 220% of federal poverty level ($1,986) | $55 |
| 250% of federal poverty level ($ 2,256) | $70 |
| 280% of federal poverty level ($2,530) | $85 |
| 310% of federal poverty level ($ 2,800) | $100 |
| 340% of federal poverty level ($3,070) | $120 |
| 370% of federal poverty level ($ 3,340) | $140 |
| 400% of federal poverty level ($3,610) | $165 |
| 430% of federal poverty level ($3,880) | $190 |
| 460% of federal poverty level ($4,152) | $220 |
| 490% of federal poverty level ($4,423) | $255 |
| 530% of federal poverty level ($4,784) | $295 |
| 575% of federal poverty level ($5,190) | $340 |
| 620% of federal poverty level ($5,596) | $390 |
| 670% of federal poverty level ($6,047) | $452 |
This chart is a guide only. Federal poverty levels are determined on an annual basis and changes in the poverty levels will change the income range for premiums.
