Special needs child and Medicare in North Carolina (health insurance, income)

[Sam Malone]

Hi all,
My wife and I may be moving to North Carolina and I am wondering if anyone knows about Medicare eligibility for children. Our infant daughter is completely disabled. Currently, we live in California and have primary health insurance through my employer. We earn more than both the Medicare income limit and the Social Security income limit. However, in California there is a state law that a disabled child can qualify for Medi-Cal (our version of Medicare) based on the child's income to qualify.

Medi-Cal covers what my health insurance does not. The main benefit we receive from Medi-Cal is some respite nursing care. Our daughter needs a lot of care and getting a break helps with our sanity and our ability to take care of everyday needs.

I have researched the NC websites and I do not see a comparable program. They all seem to qualify the child based on the parents' income. Am I reading this correctly? Does anyone have any experience with a special needs child, NC benefits, and obtaining those benefits after moving to NC? Our primary concern would be how to obtain respite/home nursing care benefits. If we will lose that benefit, we will need to be prepared.

Thank you.

[goldenage1]

Originally Posted by Sam Malone

I have researched the NC websites and I do not see a comparable program. They all seem to qualify the child based on the parents' income. Am I reading this correctly?

I assume you have seen this: NC DMA: Medicaid CAP for Children (CAP/C)

You might try telephoning or emailing one of the people on the contacts list PDF at the bottom of the page. They may be able to confirm the income eligibility. However, I suspect that North Carolina is waaay less generous than California with its Medicare benefits.

[Sam Malone]

Thank you, goldenage1. No, I did not see that link. That was under long-term care and I was researching under infants and children. That is exactly the type of program we would need. We may not qualify, but that is where I need to be looking. Thank you.