Ohio expands coverage for children and workers with disabilities

On April 1st Ohio launched two new health care coverage expansions: the Children's Buy-In Program and a Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities (Source: "More kids can get coverage" Columbus Dispatch, April 2, 2008). 

The Children's Buy-in Program is for children who live in families with incomes above 300 percent of poverty and meet one of the following conditions: unable to obtain health insurance due to a prexisting condition; private insurance would cost more than twice the cost of the buy-in program; or they have exceeded their lifetime benefit limit. The expectation is that this program will help around 5,000 uninsured children. 

The Medicaid buy-in program for workers with disabilities is available to individuals with incomes up to 250 percent of poverty for a family of two.  Its purpose is to allow workers with disabilities to accept higher paying jobs without fear of losing their Medicaid benefits, benefits many of them need to be able to be successfully employed.  The expectation is that around 7,000 workers with disabilities will take advantage of this program.