FoodShare WI

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• FoodShare WI
• and
• Kristin Hoffschmidt
• Outreach and Training
• WI Dept of Health Services

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Health and Nutrition Programs

• The presentation will cover
• Wisconsin FoodShare
• BadgerCare Plus
• How to Apply with ACCESS
• Enrollment Assistance Tips
• ---------------------------------
• Remember, when in doubt apply!

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• ForwardHealth Elderly, Blind or Disabled
• SSI Medicaid
• SSI-related Medicaid
• SSI state Supplement
• SSI Caretaker Supplement
• Medicaid Purchase Plan

• Family Care
• Family Care Plus
• Family Care Partnership

• Other Long Term Care
• Community Waivers
• Institutions
• Katie Beckett

Family Planning Waiver
WI Well Woman Program WI Well Woman Medicaid
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What is FoodShare?

• FoodShare Wisconsin helps low-income families and
  individuals to buy food
• The FoodShare benefit amount is based on
  household size, income, and expenses
• The average benefit is around 194/month

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Wisconsin QUEST Card

• Functions like a debit card with a PIN number
• Balance information available on receipts or by
  calling QUEST Customer Service (1-877-415-5164)

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What is the Goal of BadgerCare Plus?

• To expand access to
• comprehensive, affordable
• health care to more children,
• families, and pregnant
• women in Wisconsin.

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Pay deductible if above 300
BadgerCare Plus Coverage
NO INCOME LIMIT
300
Eligible for Express Enrollment in addition to
regular full-benefit BadgerCare Plus
Participants must not have health insurance
access (employer pays 80 of premium) be US
citizen or qualified immigrant and be a WI
resident. Some exceptions apply
250
200
Family Income as a Percentage of Federal Poverty
Level
150
100
Youth Exiting Out of Home Care
Children
Parents of Children 0-18
Caretaker Relatives of Children 0-18
Parents with Children in Foster Care
Pregnant Women
Self-Employed And Farm Parents
lt1
1-18
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Who May Be Eligible?

• BC benefits are for individuals who do not have
  access to employer-sponsored health insurance in
  which the employer pays for 80 of the premiums,
  with some exceptions
• Applicants must be WI residents
• Applicants must be US citizens or qualified
  immigrants (except for BC Prenatal Program and
  Emergency Services)

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Who May Be Eligible?

• Children
• Pregnant women
• Young adults aging out of foster care
• Parents or relatives caring for a child
• Parents with children in out of home care
• Farm and other self-employed families

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Eligibility Details Children

• Children under age 19, regardless of income
• Children above 200 FPL have premiums

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Eligibility Details Pregnant Women

• Pregnant women with incomes up to 300 of FPL
  (63,599 for a family of 4)
• A pregnant woman with income
• over 300 of FPL can become
• eligible by meeting a deductible.
• Pregnant women do not have
• to pay a premium.

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Eligibility Details Youths Exiting Foster Care

• Youth who turn 18 on or after Jan. 1, 2008 and
  are under age 21 are eligible.
• No income limits
• Access to health care
• insurance is not
• considered a barrier
• to enrollment.

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Eligibility Details Parents

• Parents or relatives caring for a child with
  incomes up to 200 of FPL (42,400 for a family
  of 4)
• Parents with children in out of home care who are
  working on a reunification plan for their
  children to return home
• Farm and other self-employed families with
  incomes up to 200 of FPL after depreciation is
  subtracted (42,400 for a family of 4).

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Access to Other Insurance

• In general, BadgerCare Plus (BC) benefits are
  for families who do not have access to affordable
  employer-sponsored health insurance
• However, when it is determined cost effective
• Families with incomes under 150 of FPL who have
  employer-sponsored insurance may be able to use
  BC to pay premiums, co-insurance, and
  deductibles
• Children with incomes greater than 150 of FPL
  who have employer-sponsored insurance may be able
  to qualify for BC by meeting a dedutible
• There are some good cause reasons for failure
  to enroll in an employer sponsored health
  insurance plan.

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Member Expenses

• Members have small co-payments for most services,
  doctor visits, and prescription drugs.
• Members at higher income levels pay premiums.
  Examples
• Children in families with incomes above 200 of
  FPL
• Parents and caretakers with incomes above 150 of
  FPL

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Member Premiums

• The average premium amount for those who pay
  premiums is around 30 / month.
• Children Between 10 - 90.74/month
• Adults Between 10 to 286/month
• Most families with incomes at or below 300 of
  the FPL will not pay more than 5 of their total
  income for their premiums.
• For more information on premiums, see
  www.emhandbooks.wi.gov/bcplus click on Tables
  and then 48.1 Premiums.

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BadgerCare Plus Benefits Plans
Pay deductible if above 300
300
NO INCOME LIMIT
Benchmark Plan
Standard Plan
Participants must not have health insurance
access (employer pays 80 of premium) be US
citizen or qualified immigrant and be a WI
resident. Some exceptions apply
200
Some may have the Benchmark Plan
Family Income as a Percentage of Federal Poverty
Level
Pay premium if between 150 and 200
150
100
Youth Exiting Out of Home Care
Children 0- 18
Parents of Children 0-18
Caretaker Relatives of Children 0-18
Parents with Children in Foster Care
Pregnant Women
Self-Employed Parents
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Benefits Include

• Doctor and clinic visits
• Prescription drugs
• Prenatal and maternity care
• Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
• Emergency room visits
• Nursing home stays
• Laboratory and x-ray services
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Dental and vision services
• Mental health and substance abuse
• Day treatment services
• Nursing services

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Member Card
The new card says Forward Health. People who
were BadgerCare members may still be able to use
their old card.
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How Do I Enroll?

• On-line using access.wi.gov
• Call Member Services at 1-800-362-3002
• In person at a local county or tribal agency
• Some medical providers and community- based
  organizations can provide Express Enrollment

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ACCESS Your Key to Health and Nutrition
Programs access.wi.gov
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Overview of https//access.wi.gov

• Am I Eligible? 15 minute self-assessment tool
  (launched 8/04)
• Apply For Benefits application for FoodShare,
  Medicaid and the Family Planning Waiver program
  (launched 6/06). Upgraded to include Elderly,
  Blind or Disabled Medicaid application
  information in 6/07.
• Check My Benefits personalized, up-to-date
  benefit information (launched 9/05)
• Report My Changes online change reporting
  (launched 9/06)

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Am I Eligible?

• Simple 15-minute screening for
• FoodShare
• All subprograms of Medicaid
• SeniorCare and Medicare Part D
• Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• The Emergency Food Assistance Program
• School meals and summer food
• Tax credits (EITC, Homestead and Child Credit)
• Home Energy Assistance
• Personalized results and next steps for
  applying
• 96 of those who completed the self-assessment
  were potentially eligible for at least 1 program

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Apply For Benefits (AFB)

• Online application for FoodShare, Medicaid,
  and/or the Family Planning Waiver Program.
• Questions for Elderly, Blind or Disabled (EBD)
  applicants were added on 6/22/07, and EBD
  applicants in need of long-term care now must use
  ACCESS to apply for benefits.
• A full application takes 30 to 60 minutes to
  complete, depending on household size, reading
  speed, and computer skills. Customers may save
  their application and finish it later.

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Apply For Benefits (AFB)

• The customer signs the application electronically
  and it is immediately sent to the local agency
  for processing
• Applications are processed within 30 days.
• FoodShare applicants must meet with a worker or
  speak to them by phone to complete the
  application process.

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Check My Benefits (CMB)

• Access to up-to-date information about benefits
  without having to call local agency
• User creates a secure account with a user ID and
  password
• Enter Social Security Number, date of birth, and
  either their case number, FoodShare card number,
  or Medicaid/Forward Health card number
• Customers without a Social Security Number can
  use their PIN ask the worker for more
  information
• Benefit information sent directly from the CARES
  system

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Report My Changes (RMC)

• Report changes in employment, address, income,
  housing and utility bills, and household
  composition (someone moved in or out of the home,
  got married / divorced, had a baby, etc.)
• To report changes, users must create a secure
  account through Check My Benefits
• Like AFB, customers receive a tracking number and
  a printable copy of their change report
• They may also track the status of the change
  through Check My Benefits

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ACCESS Resources

• If youd like to try out the online application
  without applying for benefits, please use
• trn.access.wisconsin.gov
• This version of ACCESS is only for testing and
  training

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Enrollment Assistance Tips

• To ensure the best health care service for your
  clients, remember the steps to successfully
  applying and staying enrolled
• 1 - Completing the Application
• 2 - Required Documentation
• 3- Staying Enrolled

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Completing the Application

• Best practice suggestions
• Give the applicant a copy of the printed
  application after submitting it on ACCESS.
• Provide a folder so they can keep all of their
  paperwork together (such as the Guide to
  Applying, Enrollment and Benefits Handbook,
  letters, notices, etc.).

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Required Documentation

• Best practice suggestions
• Show the applicant the documentation list in the
  Guide to Applying
• Make a follow-up appointment for the applicant to
  bring in their documentation
• Write the application tracking number on all of
  the documentation sent to the county or tribal
  agency.

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Staying Enrolled

• Best practice suggestions
• Applicant can set up an account to use Check My
  Benefits and Report My Changes online
• Remind the applicant of the importance of
  following enrollment guidelines
• Keep appointments and show the ForwardHealth Card
  at appointments
• Read all letters and notices carefully and
  respond to them quickly
• Report changes within 10 days
• Complete the annual review on time

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BadgerCare Plus Core Plan

• Health coverage for adults without minor children
  in April 2009
• Some proposed eligibility requirements
• Age 19 to 64
• At or below 200 of FPL
• Updates at badgercareplus.org

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Where to Get Information

• QUEST Customer Service
• 877-415-5164
• WI Medicaid Member Services
• 800-362-3002
• WI FoodShare Website
• dhs.wi.gov/foodshare
• BadgerCare Plus Website
• badgercareplus.org