Medicaid sends payments to your health care provider and depending on the rules in your state, you may be required to pay for a portion of the cost of some medical services. Medicaid is administered by each state and it is up to the state to set the eligibility guidelines. This article mainly focuses on some of the guidelines that have been established for the state of Ohio. The basic elements of Medicaid are the same throughout the country, but the eligibility guidelines and the services provided through Medicaid can differ from state to state.

Who Qualifies for Medicaid In Ohio

Ohio Medicaid provides coverage to the following groups of people:

• Children
• Pregnant women
• Families with children younger than age 19
• People with disabilities
• Older adults (age 65 and older)
• Certain women screened for breast and/or cervical cancer
• Other Types of Assistance: Medicare Premium, Disability Medical, Refugee Medical, Alien Emergency Medical

To qualify for Medicaid, a person must meet these basic requirements:

• be a U.S. citizen or meet Medicaid citizenship requirements
• be an Ohio resident
• have or get a social security number
• meet certain financial requirements

Programs for Children, Families and Pregnant Women

Ohio Medicaid offers two programs: Healthy Start and Healthy Families. Healthy Start is for children and Healthy Families is for families and pregnant women with limited income. Once eligible for Medicaid, each child (birth through age 20) will have access to an important group of services known as HealthChek.

Healthchek is Ohio's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) Program. It provides a group of services to children and teens (birth through age 20) which include: prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of Healthchek is to discover and treat health problems early. These services are marketed as Healthchek to parents as a set of preventive health screenings with follow-up diagnosis and treatment. If a potential health problem is found, further diagnosis and treatment is covered.

Healthy Start

Healthy Start (also called SCHIP) is a Medicaid program available to:

• Children (younger than age 19) in families with income up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
• Pregnant women in families with income up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

Healthy Families

Healthy Families is a Medicaid program available to families with income up to 90% of the federal poverty level (families must include a child younger than age 19).

What Is The Federal Poverty Line?

There are two slightly different versions of the federal poverty measure: the poverty thresholds and the poverty guidelines.

The poverty thresholds are updated each year by the Census Bureau and are the original version of the federal poverty measure. They are used for the statistical purposes like knowing how many Americans are in poverty each year. To find out how the Census Bureau applies thresholds to a family's income to determine its poverty status, see "How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty" on their website.

The poverty guidelines are the other measurement of federal poverty. The are released each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They are used to determine eligibility for certain federal programs. You can view the current guidelines at the Federal Register notice of the 2009 poverty guidelines.

The 2009 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and the District of Columbia are as follows:

1 person in family - $10, 830
2 persons in family - $14,570
3 persons in family - $18,310
4 persons in family - $22,050
5 persons in family - $25,790
6 persons in family - $29,530
7 persons in family - $33,270
8 persons in family - $37,010

*For families with more than 8 persons, add $3,730 for each person.

This information was obtained from the United States Department of Health and Human Services website.

Medical Services That Are Covered by Medicaid

Ohio's Medicaid program limits some services by dollar amount, number of visits per year, or setting in which they can be provided. The program also includes preventative care. By Federal Law, the Ohio Medicaid program must offer the following services: Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Certified family nurse practitioner services, Certified pediatric nurse practitioner services, Family planning services & supplies, Healthchek (EPSDT) program services (screening & treatment services to children 21 and younger), Home health services, Inpatient hospital, Lab & X-ray, Medical & surgical dental services, Medical & surgical vision services, Medicare Premium Assistance, Non-Emergency Transportation (NET) to Medicaid services, Nursing facility care, Outpatient services, including those provided by Rural Health Clinics & Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Physician services.

Ohio also offers other Medicaid services which can be found on the Ohio Job and Family Services website.

How To Apply

To apply for Medicaid, you must fill out an application and either fax, mail it, or take it to your local county Job and Family Services location. The eligibility guidelines are attached to the application which will help you determine if you meet the criteria. The Ohio Job and Family Services Department suggests that you should apply even if you are unsure if you are eligible. In the event you don't meet the guidelines, they might be able to find another program you are eligible for. Once your application is received, along with any required documentation, you will be scheduled for a face to face interview.

Once eligible, coverage may be retroactive up to 3 months prior to the application. Most States have additional "State-only" programs to provide medical assistance for specified poor persons who do not qualify for the Medicaid program. No Federal funds are provided for State-only programs.

Car insurance is an unavoidable expense that all vehicle owners must incur. Whether your bill arrives annually, bi-annually or monthly, car insurance is not an expense we enjoy paying. Thankfully, there are several steps you can take to reduce the costs of car insurance.

1. Be Careful on the Open Road.

While this is obvious, it's worth stressing. The very best and most basic way to reduce your car insurance bill is to exercise caution when you are driving. A good driving record means a lower rate on your car insurance. You can exercise more control over your record by doing the following:

Focus on the road: Don’t talk on your cell phone, send text messages or consume things that are difficult or messy to eat (like tacos or sub sandwiches) behind the wheel. Operating a GPS system behind the wheel is also dangerous. Pull over if you need to do these things.

And on this point I'll add one other thing--your kids are watching you. Do you want your 16 year old texting while they drive? They'll will follow your lead in how to operate car. If you text, they'll text (and I'm preaching to the choir on this one).

Obey speed limit signs: Speeding tickets add points to your record and often result in automatic increases in your insurance bill. This might mean that you need to allow extra time for driving so that you can arrive at your destination on time, but it will keep your insurance rates down. Driving under the limit can also increase your miles per gallon.

Use extra caution in residential areas, construction zones and school zones: These areas present more opportunities for accidents, and the fines for moving violations are higher.

Drive defensively: Be aware of other vehicles in front of you and behind you. When in doubt, err on the side of caution. I suspect the car that passed me yesterday could have avoided the accident. From my vantage point, he was more interest in not letting the SUV get in front of him than he was avoiding an accident.

Prepare in advance when driving in unfamiliar territory: Review maps prior to your trip. Pull over if you need to look at a map again or ask for directions.

Following these tips will make you safer behind the wheel and help you to avoid moving violations and accidents, which in turn will keep your car insurance bill lower than it otherwise would be.

2. Comparison Shop for Low Rates

Prices for car insurance will vary from company to company. At minimum, you should secure at least three quotes from three different companies when you are shopping for the lowest rates. You should also try a combination of local shopping with insurance companies and online shopping. When you shop local, ask coworkers, friends and family for referrals to companies that deal with auto insurance in your area. Referrals are a great way to find the lowest rates without spending a lot of time on the phone calling for quotes.

When you shop online, there are a variety of websites that will generate multiple results from different insurance companies. It's easy to compare auto insurance quotes from several insurance companies online through companies like Insureme.com.

3. Research Insurance Costs BEFORE You Buy a Car

Insurance rates vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle that you drive. It is important to do some research on costs associated with insuring the type of car you are considering before you buy. Certain factors that determine the cost of insurance include the price of the car, its safety record, likelihood of theft, and the costs of parts to repair the vehicle.

Foreign vehicles are often more expensive to insure because the costs associated with repairs are much higher. There are also a variety of safety features on a car that can reduce insurance costs. When you shop for a car, look for vehicles that have daytime running lights, anti-theft devices, air bags and other safety features. You can find a great deal of information regarding vehicle safety and safety features at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

For example, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performs slow speed (3 to 6 mph) bumper crash tests and determines the cost of repairs. In the Institute's front full test, the Volkswagen Rabbit's repair costs exceed $4,000. You can check out all the test results and other helpful auto insurance information at the Institute's website.

4. Reduce Coverage on Older Cars

As your vehicle ages, the need for collision and comprehensive coverage begins to decline. A general rule of thumb is that if your car is not worth 8-10 times the premium rate, then full coverage may not be entirely cost effective. You can determine the general worth of your vehicle online with the services of Kelley Blue Book or by consulting with your local auto dealer or bank. Check the value of your car against the cost of your annual premiums and adjust your coverage accordingly each year.

There are also interactive online calculators that can help you determine the amount of coverage you need. You can find an easy to use coverage calculator at carinsurance.com.

5. Buy Home and Auto Insurance from the Same Company

Some insurance companies offer special rates to customers who insure several entities at the same time. Home and auto insurance packages are especially cost effective. You might even find special rates on insurance for other items such as motorcycles and recreational vehicles too when you purchase policies from the same company. When you purchase your policies for various coverage products through the same company, you may also be eligible for extra savings that are added on year after year in appreciation for your loyalty.

Bonus Tip--Increase the Deductible

As a bonus tip, I'll add that you should consider increasing your deductible. An insurance deductible is the amount the insured must pay before the insurance company will begin paying on a claim. Auto insurance deductibles are typically in the $100 to $250 range. But for many, while we'd rather not shell out a couple hundred dollars, we could if we had to. The point is, it may not be cost effective to pay higher premiums to insure amounts we could pay on our own.

Insurance deductibles are regulated by each state. Where we live, the maximum deductible allowed is $500, and that's what we have. Check with your insurance agent to see how much you can save by raising your deductible.

All health insurance plans are not created equally. There are a variety of different approaches that health insurance companies take when developing products and services for individual buyers. Low premiums might not necessarily mean that individuals are getting the type of coverage they need. The first step in exploring the many different types of individual health insurance plans is to learn all about the basic terminology and common features associated with individual health care plans.

What is Co-Insurance?

Co-insurance is a method that health insurance providers use to split the cost of your health care needs. The insurance company pays for part of the cost and the individual pays the remaining balance due out of pocket. Insurance companies determine a percentage of the cost they will cover in advance, and then the individual is also responsible for a predetermined percentage. This is often times referred to as “percentage participation” rate.

Some standard percentage participation rates for co-insurance include 70/30, 80/20 and 90/10 plans. On a 70/30 plan, the insurance company pays for 70% of costs incurred, while the individual is responsible for the remaining 30%. We learned about the cost of co-insurance the hard way when my wife spent 9 days in a hospital early last year.

As an added measure of protection, most major health insurance companies will limit the amount of money that an individual is responsible for paying out of pocket on a yearly basis. This is called a “co-insurance cap,” and it protects those on the plan in the event of a catastrophic medical problem, such as a debilitating car accident or terminal illness. A typical co-insurance cap is limited to $2,000 – $3,000. Once the co-insurance cap is reached, the insurance company will assume responsibility for 100% of any charges incurred thereafter.

Typically, a health insurance plan with a high percentage participation rate – such as 70/30 – has a much lower monthly premium, while plans with lower percentages will feature higher monthly premiums.

What is a Co-Pay?

A co-pay is commonly confused with co-insurance. The two are similar, but there is one key difference. With a co-pay, the dollar amount that an individual will pay for health care services is fixed. There are absolutely no percentage participation rates with a co-pay. Different services are assigned a dollar amount that will be paid by the individual receiving services. For example, a standard co-pay for a visit to a family doctor might be $25. This means that each time the insured individual walks into the family doctor’s office, they can expect to remit a payment of $25 at the time of service.

When it comes to health care, a “service” might be a doctor’s office visit, a trip to the emergency room, or prescription medications. Co-payments may vary for different services, but the dollar amount will always be fixed. The services that insurance companies cover also vary; for instance, certain providers might not offer coverage for dental procedures or eye exams as part of their health insurance plan. Typically, a health insurance plan with higher co-pay rates for various health care services has a much lower monthly premium, while plans with lower co-pay rates will feature higher monthly premiums.

What is a Deductible?

Some insurance plans include a deductible. The deductible is a fixed dollar amount that an individual must pay out of pocket before the insurance company will begin to cover the costs of any health care services. For example, if a plan has a deductible of $500, then the insured party must spend $500 on services out of pocket. After that $500 mark has been reached, the insurance company will begin to assume responsibility for health care costs, usually either via co-insurance or a co-pay, depending on the type of plan.
Typically, a health insurance plan with a high deductible has a much lower monthly premium, while plans with lower deductibles will feature higher monthly premiums.

Unfortunately, there is no simple solution or one size fits all answer for choosing an individual health insurance plan. As evidenced by the terms, conditions and numbers above, a plan with a low premium will not necessarily be the very best choice. It is important to weigh the costs associated with co-insurance percentage participation rates, co-payment amounts and the services that are covered, as well as deductible rates.

In this article, we'll look at one of the best online resources that will enable you to quickly and conveniently compare online the cost of several individual health insurance options. Best of all, you can compare health insurance options with no obligation and without providing any personal information

Online Health Insurance Quotes

One of the top online resources for health insurance quotes is ehealthinsurance.com. The company was founded in 1997 and was the first to sell health insurance policies via the Internet. eHealthInsurance is headquartered in Mountain View, California and is licensed to market and sell health insurance in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. eHealthInsurance has developed partnerships with more than 180 health insurance companies, including Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, AARP, Coventry Health, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente.

Using eHealthInsurance to get free no obligation health insurance quotes is easy. From the main page of eHealthInsurance (which you can go to by clicking here), enter your zip code. From there you'll enter just four pieces of information about yourself and any family members you want included in the policy: gender, date of birth, whether you or family members used tobacco products in the last 12 months, and whether you or family members are full-time college students.

With just this information, eHealthInsurance will present you with multiple health insurances plans for you to review. Based on my family's information, including our two children, here is just a portion of what eHealthInsurance offered online in a matter of seconds:

Benefits of eHealthInsurance

There are several really important features offered by eHealthInsurance.

1. Many Options: While the image above lists just three options from my search for medical coverage, eHealthInsurance actually presents about 100 options to choose from, depending on where you live.
2. Easy to Search: The various options can easily be sorted based on a number of factors, such as eHealth's top pics, by price, by deductible, by ratings, or by the health insurance company.
3. Easy to Compare: eHealthInsurance makes comparing policies a snap. Once you've sorted the options based on the factor that's most important to you, eHealth allows you to compare side-by-side up to four plans at a time.
4. Tons of Information: Like it or not, health insurance is a complicated subject. From deductibles to co-pays, co-insurance to doctor networks, there is a lot to consider when purchasing medical coverage. eHealth lays out all of this information for each insurance offer in an a way that's easy to follow and understand.
5. Search by Your Doctor: This is one of the most important features eHealth offers. If you already have a doctor, you can search for plans accepted by your doctor. After entering our family physician's name, eHealth produced 38 medical plans accepted by him.

In addition to all of the above features, eHealth can further refine your search for health insurance by a number of factors, including:

• Premium Range: You can search for available plans based on a minimum or maximum premium.
• Plan Features: Whether the plans are HSA eligible or include prescription coverage.
• Plan Type: Whether the plan is a network or PPO.
• Office Visits: Whether the plan covers office visits at all, and if so, after the deductible is met or before.
• Deductible Range: You can search for available plans based on a minimum or maximum deductible.
• Coinsurance Range: You can search for available plans based on the amount of coinsurance, ranging from 0% to 40%.

If you'd like to review your medical coverage plan options, you can do so by visiting eHealthInsurance.com.