[me_and_B]

The wait is over and the visits have begun! Yeah!! We are only a couple of weeks from having these two girls in our home. Woo Hoo!

My question is about Medicaid. They will be awarded Medicaid coverage, but we need to know if it is all inclusive enough (and enough choice, etc) to be able to ONLY go with Medicaid.

Have those of you that have adopted also covered your kids with your regular health plans? Or is it even necessary? I don't want to cheat them or sell them short, or be over a barrel when I travel.....or.....or.....??? Hoping for some advice. Thanks!!

[TxMom65]

I'm dealing with my first experience with Medicaid since we adopted my daughter last year. So far, it has been pretty good. We did cover her on my husband's insurance because it cost no more to do so but we haven't had to use it. We may use it when it comes to braces because there are no orthos in our are.
I'm in the NE area of Texas. Best wishes with your new daughters!!

[me_and_B]

Thanks, TXMom! So Medicaid does not cover braces? I guess if that is all, we could add them when they get older. Do you know of a comprehensive list of what is/is not covered? I've seen just summaries which aren't much help.

As it stands right now, it is fairly expensive to add them to either of our health plans but we certainly will if it seems necessary. (my wife and I each have separate plans from our respective employers).

[greenrobin]

TXMom65, I too, live in East Texas, but I'm actually pretty close to Shreveport. I've been told that there are orthodontists in the Athens area who take Medicaid. It beats driving all the way to Dallas

Now, if we could only get regular dentists around here to take Medicaid.............

[jigger]

Our son had Medicaid when he was our foster child. I have never been so happy to get rid of anything. If you already have good health insurance I'd suggest just adding your new kiddos to that. It's worth every penny. Medicaid was a constant hassle. It was hard to find providers and hard to figure out what services were and weren't covered. As well, it is a big production to get anyone to answer a question. Calling medicaid is worse than talking to the IRS. Good private healthcare is a much better option. So much so that I didn't even ask for Medicaid to continue when we finalized.

[TxMom65]

I'm lucky in that my personal Dr. takes her Medicaid and sees her as a patient. He is a great guy.

I am not sure of a list of services. I think they may pay for braces through some who take medicaid, but they are so far away from me. I would have to take so much time off work and I think we will use our insurance. Hopefully I will know more as the time gets closer.

A dentist in my town will see her for teeth cleaning and general visits. I have to go to a children's dentist in a neighboring town if something is wrong.

Greenrobin, I'm a little over an hour from Shreveport.

[TexasJingles]

Speaking as an adoptive parent of 2 years now, the only problem we ever have with insurance is mental health.

Regular medical medicaid and private insurance co-ordinate benefits really well. However, when it comes to therapist ... forget it!

I was given the advice by an attachment therapist that if I put our kids on our private insurance, we'd have to pay her out of our pocket (not something I wanted to do at $85 an hour). We also discovered this to be true with a few other therapists.

So, our kids have only been on medicaid. Other than trying to find new doctor that takes medicaid, we haven't had any problems (takes some calling around, and some driving at times, but the kids always get what they need ... and it's more than what my private insurance would allow as well).

[notjustanykatie]

How do you keep med. coverage? Don't the children have to qualify as special needs/ sibling group to qualify for funds/services after finalization... We are looking for one child under 5 y.o. So would we qualify? We both have our own biz. so our private care is crud.
TIA! I am learning so much of the process from this site. I am trying to be well informed and prepared (if that's possible :P)

[TexasJingles]

notjustanykatie - we foster-to-adopted a sibling group of 3 from the state; ages 8, 9 and 11 at adoption; of a minority race; and 2 of the 3 have moderate level behaviors/care.

So, yes they had to qualify and they did.

At this moment, I have not refreshed myself on the rules of subsidy, but I do remember seeing someone posted them around here someplace. If someone else doesn't answer your question by the time I log on again, I'll do some research for you.

[notjustanykatie]

Wow how nice of you TXjingles. Gawsh, I've tried to do my own research but I can't find it anywhere or can't understand it when I find it! Don't even get me started on the free college thing....I would be open to adopting more children if I could understand that one too. I just don't think my job ends as a parent when my kids graduate H.S....so putting them through college is the only reason I limit myself to 2-3 kiddos.

[me_and_B]

Start here:

foster/adopt vs. straight adopt in Texas

Find the post by me and there are several more links in there. Read all that and you should find your answers.

Good luck--adopting is not for the faint of heart!

[bethy724]

I love my sons pedi & he takes Medicaid -phew!!! I did have to add him to my dental becasue no dentist near me takes Medicaid. Keep the Medicaid & start calling Dr.'s to see if they take it if they are accepting new patients. I'm lucky -to add him to my insurance is pricey!!

[TexasJingles]

notjustanykatie -- The college rule is:

Any youth who was in foster or other residential care as of the youth's 14th birthday and was eligible for adoption on or after that day can be exempt from college tuition and fees. Another way is if the youth was: adopted AND the subject of a signed adoption assistance agreement between the adoptive parents and PRS. (sort of quoted from the training packet I received about 3 weeks ago)

Ok... in English ... If you adopt your child from the state foster care system, AND you receive subsidy for them, they get their tuition and fees waived at a state supported jr. college, four year colleges/universities or technical institutes (extra rules on that one). And from what I can tell, the youth has about 3 years to take advantage of this after HS graduation or GED.

There is even a section on how youth who don't get adopted can qualify for this waiver. Oh, and as well as kinship placements, whether paid or not! That's cool!

What they won't pay for: books, dormitory/lodging or food.

There is a form that needs to be sent in about 3 months prior to entering college to get the waiver letter to take to the college.

Sooooo ... doesn't this mean you can adopt more now?? Just kidding!