Healthcare Advocate Program
Do you need help understanding your health coverage options? Central Missouri Community Action can assist you!
Our trained and licensed Healthcare Advocates offer the following free services:
- One-on-one enrollment assistance for the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid and Medicare
- Post-enrollment assistance with using your health coverage
- Healthcare Advocates can meet with individuals in: Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau and Osage counties.
- Appointments can be made to meet Healthcare Advocates in any CMCA office, local library, or public location where Wi-Fi is available. Appointments can also be made for in-home visits on a case-by-case basis.
- Presentations explaining the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, and Medicare
- Information booth at health fairs or local festivals to educate attendees on the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, and Medicare
- Contact us today! GetCovered@cmca.us or call 573.777.5208.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Special Enrollment Periods are available throughout the year within 60 days of any of these qualifying life events: Marriage, have or adopt a baby, a permanent move, change of immigration status, release from incarceration and loss of health insurance coverage.
Advance Premium Tax Credits are available to help eligible people pay their monthly health insurance premiums. Depending on household income, Cost Sharing Reductions are also available to lower out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximums.
Medicaid Expansion
Medicaid Expansion means more Missourians aged 19–64 may qualify for low-cost or free health insurance through Medicaid. Expansion changed the income rules to raise the amount of money you can make and still quality. And, low-income adults without children qualify. You can apply for Medicaid any time of year.
Income Guidelines for Health Insurance Marketplace & Medicaid Expansion
Income Guidelines for Health Insurance Marketplace & Medicaid Expansion
If your household income is at or above the amounts in the first chart below, you may qualify for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage with Advance Premium Tax Credits.
If your current monthly household income is at or less than the amounts in the second chart below, you may qualify for Medicaid. Note: Children and Pregnant Women may qualify for Medicaid at income amounts higher than in the charts below.
Medicare
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 or older, some younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. Medicare has differing enrollment periods depending on the individual’s age, employment status, income, etc. Contact a Healthcare Advocate to learn more.
What to bring to an enrollment appointment?
- Active email address and its password
- For everyone in the household:
- Birthdates
- Social Security numbers
- Income information (W-2s, pay stubs, self-employment records, etc.)
- Any information about employer-sponsored health insurance
- Checking account information or debit/credit card to make the first premium payment
- Immigration documents (if applicable)
Healthcare Resources
- CoverMissouri.org: a project of the Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) to promote quality, affordable health coverage for every Missourian.
- HealthCare.gov: information available in multiple languages on the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, Medicare, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), etc.
- myDSS.mo.gov: Missouri Family Support Division portal to learn more about and apply for services such as Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), Temporary Assistance, Child Care, etc.
- Medicare.gov: the official website for the U.S. government’s Medicare program. Medicare.gov provides official benefit information regarding Medicare, including different coverage options, costs, preventative services, and tools for Medicare beneficiaries.
- Missouri CLAIM: CLAIM provides free, unbiased counseling and education to Missouri Medicare beneficiaries.