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Emergency Medical Assistance for Immigrants
To be eligible for this coverage, the applicant must fit into an eligibility category for medical assistance. This aid is only available to an immigrant who meets criteria for medical assistance but who would be denied solely because of immigration status.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
- Emergency MA is available for
immigrants with Emergency Medical Conditions who are not eligible for full MA due to immigrant status. (Please note: This is not a category of coverage. Immigrant applicant will also have to fit into a category of MA, so it may also be necessary to assist your patient in filling out the documentation necessary for one of the above listed categories of eligibility.)
- Examples of Immigrant Groups not eligible for full MA: 1) immigrants who are undocumented or who are here illegally; 2) immigrants who are here on expired visas; and 3) immigrants who are here legally, but on a temporary basis, such as people on student or visitors visas.
- What is an Emergency Medical Condition?
- A medical condition with acute symptoms of such severity, including severe pain, that without immediate medical attention, the result may be:
- Patient’s health is in serious jeopardy;
- Serious impairment to bodily function; or
- Serious dysfunction of any body organ or part.
- Physician’s Role:
- In order to qualify for Emergency MA, an applicant must prove the existence of the Emergency Medical Condition with a letter from a physician which:
- Identifies the Emergency Medical Condition;
- Specifies the need for immediate medical treatment resulting from the Emergency Medical Condition;
- Provides an end date for the emergency (condition must be time-limited and end date must be included in the letter, or applicant will not be approved!)
- Specifies the kinds of treatments which will be needed; for example doctor’s visits, hospitalization, pharmaceuticals, or surgery
- Your letter will be most effective if you use the exact language of the above stated definition of Emergency Medical Condition!
Note:
- Condition does not need to be of such emergency status that immediate same day treatment is required!
It merely needs to be so urgent that it meets the above stated definition of Emergency Medical Condition.
- Examples of some Emergency Medical Conditions that have been approved in PA:
- Breast cancer treatment (chemotherapy; radiation- 9 months);
- Surgery to repair damaged tendons in the hand;
- Hysterectomy;
- Biopsy of a testicular mass;
- Cone biopsy to remove moderate dysplasia
- An applicant for EMA is NOT required to:
- Sign citizenship/alienage declaration form;
- Verify immigrant status;
- Give a Social Security #.
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