South Florida Injury Attorneys Blog
If you or a loved one have recently suffered from a brain injury and need financial assistance, you will likely be wondering what your options are. Brain injuries, both minor and major, can come with hefty medical bills, especially since these injuries occur on one of the most delicate parts of the body.
Families and individuals that have no other health insurance or options may start researching Medicaid plans and whether they qualify. If you are in this kind of situation, it is important to know the stipulations behind government assistance such as what it entails, who qualifies, what it covers, and how a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer can help.
What is Medicaid?
Medicaid is a needs-based program that provides healthcare assistance to millions of Americans and low-income families. It is funded by the country’s government, but also has regulations in place by each state. These programs can also assist the following individuals:
- Children
- Pregnant women
- Elderly adults
- People with disabilities
The Medicaid program is either free or low-cost, depending on the individual and the family requesting coverage. Residents in Port St. Lucie, Florida, that need medical or dental assistance can view the plans that are available to them based on certain requirements such as their household income and people who need the assistance.
A short summary of individuals who can qualify for Medicaid in Florida is:
- Must be a Florida resident and legal citizen
- Must meet low-income requirements
- Suffering from blindness or other disability
- Pregnant
- Caring for a child under the age of 18
- Are age 65 and older
Before you start to apply for Medicaid coverage, it’s best to see if you are eligible with the help of a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer.
What Does Medicaid Cover?
Medicaid offers a variety of medical and dental plans for families or individuals based on their needs. The type of assistance and programs that you have access to depends on your plan and what is necessary for your situation.
Here are a few services that could be offered in your Medicaid coverage plans to assist with a brain injury or other ailments:
- Physical selection
- Hospital location
- Family planning (for pregnancy, delivery, or birth control)
- Home health care
- Nursing home care
- Hospice
- Transportation to treatments and appointments
- Dental and visual coverage
- Community Behavior Health
- More
The Florida Medicaid program also assists with coverage of prescription drugs, which can come in handy when it’s time to discuss treatment options that can be very costly for brain injuries.
There are many covered Florida Medicaid services that can be of great benefit to those who desperately need assistance during this time.
How to Apply for Medicaid?
If you or a loved one is suffering from a brain injury, you don’t have much time to waste seeking help on medical coverage. Florida’s statute of limitations offers citizens a timeline of two years to file a claim from the date of the accident, but if the injury is severe enough, you’ll likely file immediately.
Applying for Medicaid is a lot like filing for SSI or SSDI. It’s a lengthy process that not only takes time to fill out the application, but also to be accepted. On average, it takes about 90 days for a person’s Medicaid application to be processed.
There are two ways to apply for Medicaid: either by contacting your state’s Medicaid agency or by filling out an application.
When you apply for Medicaid, your income and assets will be reviewed to determine your eligibility. Usually, the fewer assets you have, the more help you will need and be potentially eligible for. Medicaid will look at the assets of an applicant and not the spouse or other members of the family. You will file an online application for Medicaid services, and when you do so, you will need to have the following information ready to fill out on your application (or give to your attorney who can assist with your enrollment):
- Social Security Number
- Date of Birth
- Proof of identity and citizenship
- Income verification (job, child support, alimony, etc.)
- A list of expenses such as housing, utility, food, clothing, and more.
- Asset information (bank accounts, vehicles, property, etc.)
How Will a Lawyer Help My Claim?
When it comes to needing assistance with Medicaid to cover brain injuries, your best option for seeking compensation is with the help of a Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Lawyer that knows and has experience with Medicaid plans.
Medicaid can be very complex, just as Social Security Disability benefits that are very difficult to obtain since your household income has to meet certain requirements. Because of this, most people are able to optimize their coverage and assistance through this program with the help of a skilled attorney.
An attorney can help you with Medicaid in several ways. If you’ve already applied by yourself and have been denied coverage, an attorney can help you file an appeal so you can seek the coverage you need. Additionally, if you haven’t already filed for assistance, they can walk you through the process and make sure everything is filed correctly and thoroughly.
It is best to work with a legal professional who is very knowledgeable in this field of law since there are complex regulations within the legal system. A skilled attorney can review all the information surrounding your position, such as your income, injury bills, and future needs to build a case that will help you optimize your earnings.
These professionals can assist people who need this kind of coverage, especially if a legal guardian or adult is the one suffering from the brain injury and has a child as a dependent. Having the assistance of a legal attorney to be there in case there are issues that arise within this complex government system can be greatly beneficial for any family.
Questions? We Have Answers
Don’t let the complexity of Medicaid keep you from seeking the help you need, especially if you’ve been previously denied. Rather, speak to one of the legal experts at Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers.
Our attorneys have in-depth industry knowledge about the rules and regulations regarding this complex program. Regardless of if you’ve been previously denied or need to seek compensation for a brain injury, we can help you seek the coverage you need.
You can start by scheduling a free consultation by calling (561) 800-8000 or leaving your contact information on our online form. One of our representatives will reach out to you about setting up an appointment that fits your schedule where you will be able to come in and hear how we can help with your case.
When you come in for your consultation, please bring the following so our attorney can best assess your needs:
- Income statements
- Medical bills associated with the injury
- Asset information
- List of life expenses
We have the skills and experience needed for those in the Post St. Lucie area to seek the Medicaid assistance they need.