Especially for those who until recently have simply relied on their employer to provide health coverage, the ins and outs of Massachusetts’s nationally known health care system may be a bit confusing.
What follows is a primer that might help those in our state who are making plans for their long-term personal and healthcare needs. A person with detailed questions about insurance products and coverage should speak to a licensed insurance professional.
Practically speaking, MassHealth is the same as Medicaid. Medicaid is a federal benefit administered through the states. States, including Massachusetts, may come up with their name for their own program, but the idea is that the state is managing federal funds to provide health care to those who need it.
The bottom line is that it covers people without income and assets to pay for important health care. Unlike other health care plans, Medicaid will pay for long-term care like a nursing home stay without a person needing a separate long-term care insurance policy.
Massachusetts is also famous for having broad health insurance laws, including a requirement that its residents have healthcare coverage in place. The state requirement pre-dates the most recent federal healthcare reform.
Commonwealth Care and Commonwealth Care Bridge are two sources for basic healthcare coverage in Massachusetts for those who do not have coverage through their employer and do not qualify for MassHealth.
Planning for long-term care is complicated and requires advanced planning
Many hard-working residents of this state are simply will not be able to afford long-term care at a nursing home or other facility when they will need one. Planning to qualify for MassHealth in advance may be their best chance for getting the services they need.
Qualifying for MassHealth is a complicated legal process. Moreover, not handling the process correctly can lead to serious consequences, including having to foot a nursing home bill out of pocket. A person interested in this option will need to make sure they understand the details and should consider having the proper professional assistance.