Medicaid/SSI Question

[oregonbossfan]

After almost 8 months of waiting-finially got the news that my son will qualify for SSI.  We desperately need the financial help-and are looking forward to have the fund to provide needed support for him. I have a question regarding how the SSI and Medicaid will work.  It's my understanding that once you qualify for SSI you then are automatically qualify to get Medicaid...but then I talked to my sons case worker.  She said that I might still need to apply for Medicaid as that is not an automatic program?  Doesnt anyone have any experience about this?  Also with Medicaid will I need to choose an insurance provider-like Blue Cross/Blue Shield/kaiser?  Or will it be an open medical card that I can go to any medical provider that will accept the card?  Any information about the SSI and Medicaid programs would be appreciated.

[shortycmlb]

As far as I know with medicaid, you have to go to a provider that accepts your stated medicaid. Most do, and you can go to any listed under your states doctor list. You will not choose a provider, the state is your provider. Depending on your plan you may have no deductible or copay, here in arkansas its either no copay for anything, 1 dentist, 1 eye exam and glasses per year, or a $10 copay for each doc visit and $4 for scrips and again, 1 dentist and 1 eye exam + glasses only its $10 for each. Hope it helped! And I would apply seperately for medicaid anyways just in case.