New York Taiwanese Association held a seminar on “Community Welfare Awareness” on July 21, organized by experienced consultants from United Healthcare and All-In Insurance. Huang Jiasheng from United Healthcare and Chen Suyan Hong from All-In Insurance explained the 2024 Medicaid, food stamp, energy assistance, and half-price subway card application criteria and their changes, including the benefits and application standards of the “Half-White Card” (Red-Blue Card QMB Program) commonly known among the Chinese community.
Various welfare benefits and application criteria are as follows:
– New York State Low-Income Medical Subsidy Program (Medicaid, commonly known as White Card): Benefits include a wide range of medical services and supplies for low-income, eligible Medicare (Red-Blue Card) beneficiaries, such as outpatient and inpatient services, home care services, dental care, and co-insurance and deductibles payments.
Qualifications for application: Applicants must be legal residents or citizens, meet specific income and asset requirements based on family size.
Income and asset limits for elderly, certified blind individuals, and disabled individuals for 2023: Single monthly income not exceeding $1,752, couple monthly income not exceeding $2,371, single assets not exceeding $31,175, couple assets not exceeding $42,321.
This benefit, federally funded, helps low-income families pay energy costs, especially during peak energy usage in winter. The annual one-time benefit limit is $675.
Qualifications for application: You and your family members must be U.S. citizens or eligible residents, monthly income requirements for 2023-2024: single not exceeding $3,035, two-person family not exceeding $3,970.
New York State Food Stamp Program (SNAP) helps beneficiaries pay for grocery expenses, with monthly subsidies stored on an electronic card. Recipients can use this card at specified supermarkets or grocery stores to purchase food. Monthly total income limits for elderly, disabled households, and households with dependent care expenses (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024): Single not exceeding $2,430, two persons not exceeding $3,287, three persons not exceeding $4,143, four persons not exceeding $5,000.
Maximum monthly food stamp benefits for households (effective from October 1, 2023): Single not exceeding $291, two persons not exceeding $535, three persons not exceeding $766, four persons not exceeding $973.
Provides a discount on basic telephone monthly fees for eligible families, around $15.8 per month.
Qualifications for application: Telephone users receiving Family Assistance, Medicaid (White Card), Food Stamps, Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), and Supplemental Security Income.
Income limit: Single annual total income $19,638, two-person family $26,622.
Benefit: Participants can ride New York City buses and subways for only half the fare, $1.35.
Qualifications for application: Legal residents, aged 65 or older, or individuals with eligible disabilities.
The Red-Blue Card Premium Free Program (MSP) is a government program designed to help low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay for part of the federal health insurance costs (monthly premiums, annual deductibles, co-insurance, etc.).
Based on your income, you may qualify for one of two MSP plans: QI-1 (for eligible individuals) or QMB (for eligible Red-Blue Card beneficiaries).
QI-1 program (Part B Reduction):
Pays for the B part of your Red-Blue Card monthly fee and may reimburse up to three months of retroactive B part fees. Qualifications: Must have Red-Blue Card Part A qualification, and monthly income should not exceed $2,355 for a single person or $3,189 for a couple; QI-1 has no asset limit.
QMB Program (Half-White Card):
QMB covers the monthly fees, deductibles, and co-insurance for Red-Blue Card Part A (if applicable) and Part B. Qualifications: Must have Red-Blue Card Part A qualification, and monthly income should not exceed $1,752 for a single person or $2,371 for a couple; QMB has no asset limit.
This is another government program to help low-income individuals pay for a wide range of medical care, services, and supplies. Individuals who are both Red-Blue Card beneficiaries and full Medicaid recipients will receive additional medical coverage (such as long-term care and prescription drugs) besides the benefits of Red-Blue Card health insurance. However, those receiving full Medicaid must also participate in the QMB program to enjoy the benefits of waived monthly fees for Red-Blue Card Part A (if applicable) and Part B.
The MSP program can only save certain medical insurance costs, such as Red-Blue Card premiums, deductibles, and co-insurance. MSP cannot provide medical coverage (beneficiaries receive medical insurance benefits through Red-Blue Card). In New York State, to qualify for full Medicaid benefits, applicants’ monthly income (applicable in 2024) must be below $1,752 for single individuals or $2,371 for couples. Additionally, single asset limit is $31,175, couple asset limit is $42,312.