http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Disable/MedicalAssist/003670301.htm

Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities For people with disabilities, finding a job or returning to work can be a challenge. For a long time one of the biggest obstacles to working was healthcare coverage. Earning too much money meant risking losing healthcare benefits. Now there's a new option-Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD). MAWD lets Pennsylvanians with disabilities take a fulfilling job, earn more money and still keep their full medical coverage. With MAWD you can keep Medicaid while you work, even if your earnings increase above the limits for other Medicaid programs. Now you don't have to choose between a job and your health. Eligibility To be eligible for MAWD, you must: Be at least 16 years of age but less than 65 Be employed and receiving compensation Have a disability that meets the Social Security Administration's standards.* Have countable income below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level** Have $10,000 or less in countable resources. (resident property and one automobile are not countable assets) * Disabilities may include physical or developmental disabilities, mental health or mental retardation. ** Contact your caseworker or local County Assistance Office(CAO) for more information, or to apply online at www.compass.state.pa.us. What's the cost? You pay a monthly premium for coverage under MAWD, since it functions like health insurance coverage for someone working. But the premium is affordable - just five percent of your countable monthly income. That's a reasonable cost for the coverage you need to keep working. Benefits may include: Doctor visits Durable medical equipment Prescription drugs Emergency care Mental health services Dental services Drug and alcohol treatment Hospital stays Rehabilitation services Hospice services Medical transportation services How to apply? Contact your local County Assistance Office(CAO) or caseworker to apply, or to find out more about how MAWD can help. Call the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare help line at (800) 692-7462 for more information. TTY/TTD users can call (800) 451-5886. Apply online through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) at www.compass.state.pa.us. Profiles Profile: Michael Detwiller Michael Detwiler, a construction worker from Indiana County, applied for assistance after suffering heart attack in late 2002. After consulting his doctor, Michael was released to return to work in November but desperately needed help paying for the prescriptions necessary to maintain his job and health. After being certified by the Medical Review Team, Michael began receiving benefits through MAWD. "I'm healthier and feel better than I have in years," Michael says. He adds that without MAWD, he wouldn't be able to afford the medicine he needs to be able to continue working and enjoying life. Profile: Virginia Steffey For part of her life, Virginia Steffey's health prevented her from working. The Indiana County resident used to avoid the doctor, even though she desperately needed to go. But without a job, she couldn't afford the prescriptions she needed to get back to living her life. Then Virginia signed up for MAWD -- and her life has never been the same. She thinks the program is fantastic. "I'm very grateful that I found a way to work and still have my health needs met," she says. "MAWD saved my life." Profile: Lucinda Parrish After years in and out of hospitals for mental health treatment and being unable to work, Lucinda Parrish was introduced to MAWD. A resident of Montgomery County, Lucinda was the first person in her area to enroll. Now she says it was one of the best things that has happened to her. "The MAWD program was a lifesaver," according to Lucinda. "Without the program, I would not be able to receive the medications that I need to be a productive person at work or at home with my family." Prior to enrolling in MAWD, her medication costs were nearly $1,600 a month. Now, thanks to MAWD, all of her medications are provided to her at no cost. Today, Lucinda is not only working as an R.N. at the Penn Psychiatric Center, she's also a member of the Chester County Consumer Satisfaction Team. She's introduced friends and coworkers to MAWD, and many have experienced the same results. As she puts it, "MAWD helped save my life, and now I'm using it to help save others." Profile: Adoracion Barrios Adoracion Barrios and her husband, residents of Lehigh County, both enrolled in MAWD in early January 2002. As recipients of Medicare and Social Security Disability Income, they were unable to find insurance coverage that provided them with the medications they both need to enjoy their daily lives. All that changed once they signed up for MAWD. Adoracion says the program has made all the difference, giving them the ability to work a few hours a week and still maintain health benefits. "We can't believe MAWD is available to us and how much it has helped us," she notes. "We really enjoy being able to choose our own physician and being in control of our own health." Profile: Robert Burns When Robert Burns of Butler lost his health insurance he'd just become disabled. Suddenly he lost access to the care and medications he needed to recover. Fortunately, he found a job within several months and qualified for coverage through MAWD. "MAWD guaranteed me care, medications, individual therapy, group therapy and mobile medication support," he notes. "I knew that if I was willing to invest my effort in the recovery process that the support I needed would be there. The uncertainty of earlier days was gone." Robert had worked for 35 years before his illness and found it tough to be unemployed. He didn't like days without scheduled activities or the isolation, and also missed his interactions with co-workers. Returning to work has been a challenge, but he's been steadily increasing his work hours. "My recovery has had its high points and low points, but I'm committed to the journey," he explains. "I'm up to the challenges that go with it, knowing MAWD is there to help eliminate some of the obstacles along the way."