• Your family may be able to keep Medical Assistance for up to a year after you stop getting cash assistance. Even if you left cash assistance because of a job or because you decided to stop getting cash assistance.
• Your family should not lose MA because of work requirements or time limits.

Families may be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA) even if they don't get cash assistance anymore.

Your family may still be able to get MA even if:

• you found a job,
• you got a pay raise, or
• you decided to get off welfare.

The state cannot cut you off MA just because

• you lost welfare,
• you were sanctioned under welfare, or
• you decided to leave welfare.

Most families get MA because they also get cash assistance. But there are many other ways to qualify for MA. One way many families can keep getting MA after they leave cash is called the MA extension.

Your family might be able to get MA extended for up to a year. To get the first six months, your family has to have been eligible for cash assistance in 3 out of the 6 months right before you lost welfare. Also, there still has to be a child under 18 years old in your home. There is no limit on how much income you can have.

You do not have to fill out a new application. The extension should happen automatically.

Your family can get another 6-month extension. You have to file the reports

necessary, there still has to be a child in your family, and your family earnings have to be less than 185% of the poverty level. You should subtract from your income any childcare expenses you have because of your work

Stay in touch with your caseworker. Ask your caseworker to see if there is any other way you or your children qualify for MA after you leave cash assistance. Your child might still be able to get MA, even if you don't anymore, under "Healthy Beginnings."

Copyright © 1999

Pennsylvania Health Law Project

801 Arch St., Suite 610 A

Philadelphia, PA 19107-2421

215-625-3663

March 1999. PHLP is a Pennsylvania public interest law firm. Most laws differ from state to state. Even federal laws can be administered differently in different states. We are providing this information as a public service. We try to make it accurate as of the date indicated for each brochure. Sometimes the laws change. We cannot guarantee or promise that this information is always up-to-date and correct. If the date provided is not within the past year, call us and ask for an update. The information in this brochure is for public education only and should not be taken as legal advice. If you need legal assistance or advice on a specific problem, you should consult an attorney.