[susieq62]

We have a foster child whom we would like to adopt. We have had him since 10 months old and now is two years old. At 15 months old he was suddenly diagnosed with retnoblastoma (eye cancer) and lost his right eye. When we decided to adopt him we were told he would be 4E eligible and would qualify for the Ohio Medicaid card. After starting the adoption process then we were told there is a clause that the State has that says if a child was not removed from a biological family member than they are ineligable for the State Medicaid card and is not 4E eligable. He was actually turned over to the Children Services agency by a man who was raising him and was on the father registry as the legal father, but then through DNA found out he was not the bio so there fore decided he could not raise him. This little guy has been through a lot medically and it will now be life long. He has to have the medicaid card for us to adopt as we could never afford his medical care other wise. They are trying to get us to apply for other things such as medical card through job and family, but we can not agree to that as we would have to apply every six months for the rest of his life and that would go on income and could at some point just be to risky. We cannot imagine letting him go over medical coverage but that is just what it might come down too. We cannot figure out how who he was removed from has any thing to do with his long list of medical needs yet that is what they are saying is keeping him from the card. Anyone experience this please get back with me as to any way around this crazy not right clause. Or any ideas who I could contact to get this straightened out for this little guy. The agency has applied for SSI for him because supposedely anyone who qualifies for SSI automatically qualifies for State Medicaid. Problem with that is SSI has turned him down. The agency has made an appeal but we all know how long this could take and how many times we could have to appeal. PLEASE HELP IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HELP, WE ARE DESPERATE FOR HIM!

[mkferrel]

With your local county knowing his medical history they should include in your subsidy an amount equal to cover medical cost until SSI kicks in and any potential amount through their special needs assistance until they child is totally covered. What county do you reside?

[susieq62]

Melinda,
Thank you for your reply. As of this past Thursday we finally were able to get him 4-E eligable. We are in Richland County. I basically had to live on the phone for almost two weeks. I ended up calling, e-mailing, and writing anyone and everyone who might have some information or know something to get this over turned. Even contacted the Governor. Anyways my ticket was a man by the name of Tim O'hanlon. His credentials were outstanding and he even sat on committees to write the laws and rules for the State surrounding 4-E. He basically sat Childrens Services straight on some things and the pressure was on to get it fixed. Not to mention I had to get Junenile court involved as well. Bottom line we got the Medicaid card through 4-E and also got approved for the subsidy we requested. Even though that was not alot at least we did get the State Medicaid card and can now proceed with the adoption.

I now have to make a decision to put him on our insurance as a primary and Medicaid as secondary or go strickly with medicaid. We have a very high deductable with our insurance, although if Medicaid will pick up anything our insurance does not pay than that should work to do it that way. Still some questions to get answers too but hopefully it will be smooth sailing from here. The agency is telling me we do not have a choice as we have to put him on our insurance first and they Medicaid as secondary. But if my memory is correct we did have a choice when we adopted our daughter and we went with both. I just need to make sure they will cover anything left including deductable because it is 1500.00 a year and he will most certainly meet that each year especially if the cancer were to come back. Thank you for your reply and if you have any information on that part of it that would be great.
Sue

[courtneylaci]

Would you be able to pass along contact information for Tim O'Hanion? My husband and I are adopting a baby with DS in October and are having difficulty ensuring her qualification for Title IV. She'll require open heart surgery within the first 6 months and our ability to proceed depends on subsidies and funding. We're out of state (Kansas) and having difficulty with the process and how Ohio/Kansas will assume subsidy responsibility. any guidance you could give would be so great...thanks!

[susieq62]

Courtney,
What is DS? Is the baby you are trying to adopt from Ohio?
The last information I had on Tim O'hanlon was 614-299-0177 or cell 614-537-2840 and his e-mail was Tohanlon@columbus.rr.com.
I was told at the time that he was very hard to reach and even if you did you would have to really get his attention and he loves a challenge. Also likes his ego stroked. So that is exactly what I did. I was so desperate at the time that I would have done almost anything I had too. I got the impression that he is a pretty powerful man in child welfare and if you can get his attention and he can help he is the man to do it. I sure hope things work out for you. If you have anymore questions feel free to e-mail me if you like. susieq621018@neo.rr.com.
Good luck, will say a prayer for you all.
Sue