[AnneR]

Has anyone adopted special needs and kept the medical card? I would like to keep the card, just trying to decide if the $500 deductible I have on my own insurance is worth the hassle I get when I use the card. Not only do I have trouble finding practicioners, but when I mention medicaid I usually immediately get treated like garbage. Ideally I would like to put the kids on my insurance as primary, and keep medicaid as secondary. But my SW doesn't think medicaid works with coordination of benefits, thus won't pick up my deductible. Looking for anyone with experience or info! Thanks!

[sundara]

I have 4 adopted kids who have medicaid. MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT!!!!

It is VERY useful if kids are hospitalized - your insurance will be primary (cover 90%) and medicaid picks up remaining 10%. This is very helpful.

No, medicaid will not cover private insurance deductibles.

What you know now about your kids may change in the future, and what they need in the future is unpredictable. I never would have thought my kids would need hospitalization, but now have had 2 in the last year. Thus, medicaid has covered abut $20,000 in costs in last two years alone, and has also picked up the difference on minor emergencies as well. Most major hospitals take the card, even if private doctors don't, that makes it worthwhile.

[AnneR]

So even though it won't cover deductibles, it will cover the co-pays? I have a $500 deductible, and then we're 90/10 on everything else. Good to know it will at least cover that. Have you ever been given a number to contact medicaid directly? I've searched on the net and can't find anything, and the number on the card has bombed out too...they're just for verifying coverage apparently....

[mj77]

Best thing to do is to contact Medicaid and ask them directly what they will cover. If you don't want to do that, contact the child's pediatrician's office and speak to the medical biller and find out typically how claims are being paid in similar situations. Best bet to call Medicaid. I would keep the insurance regardless. In our case we dropped my dh's insurance and just use our state insurance so we don't mess with deductables anyway.