CommonHealth Working
Access to comprehensive healthcare
Workers with disabilities in Massachusetts may be eligible for a comprehensive medical insurance program called CommonHealth.
MassHealth, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Medicaid Program, offers the CommonHealth benefit plan to residents age 19 or older, who are determined to be disabled and who work 40 hours or more per month or 240 hours in the previous six months. Massachusetts residents with disabilities who have lower income may be eligible for the MassHealth Standard benefit plan.
Businesses may have employees with disabilities who do not work enough hours to qualify for company sponsored health insurance or perhaps they have disability related medical expenses that are covered only partially or perhaps not at all under the company plan. These employees may qualify for CommonHealth.
There is no income limit or asset test for the CommonHealth benefit plan. Eligible workers with disabilities can buy in to CommonHealth using a sliding scale premium based on income.
CommonHealth facts
Employees may simultaneously be enrolled in employer-sponsored health insurance and CommonHealth. In fact, individuals are required to enroll in their available employer-sponsored health insurance plan. In this case, CommonHealth serves as supplemental insurance.
CommonHealth may cover expenses or service needs that are not covered by an employer’s plan (see examples below).
CommonHealth may be an option for part-time employees and/or those who are not eligible for healthcare benefits.
MassHealth also offers a benefit program that provides financial assistance to help MassHealth or CommonHealth beneficiaries pay their private insurance premium. Many CommonHealth members are eligible for this program.
The parent of a child with special healthcare needs may apply for CommonHealth Children’s benefit plan on behalf of their child. The plan provides medical coverage and offsets certain medical expenses.
Examples of CHW Services
Some of the services and expenses that may be covered by MassHealth, including CommonHealth, include:
- inpatient hospital services
- outpatient services
- hospitals
- clinics
- doctors
- dentists
- family planning
- vision care
- medical services
- lab tests
- x-rays
- therapies
- pharmacy services
- eyeglasses
- hearing aids
- medical equipment and supplies
- home-health services
- behavioral health (mental health and substance abuse) services
- transportation services
- smoking cessation services
- well-child screenings (for children under the age of 21)
- medical
- vision
- dental
- hearing
- developmental screens
- shots
To learn more, vist MassHealth CommonHealth
Next Steps
- Train human resources personnel on the MassHealth program, including CommonHealth.
- Regularly distribute information about the CommonHealth Working program concurrently with your company’s existing health insurance documents
Resources
A website about CommonHealth by MassWorks
The Commonwealth’s website on MassHealth CommonHealth
Contact MassHealth Customer Service for an application or for other inquires at 1 (800) 841-2900
