Illinois is part of the national movement to help people with disabilities return to
work. The program called Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities
(HBWD) started providing medical benefits in January 2002.
Disability advocates have long noted that returning to work is
difficult for people with disabilities. Many fear that a return
to work means losing Medicaid health care coverage. Often private
insurance is difficult or impossible to obtain.
The goal of this program is to help people with disabilities return
to work with full Medicaid health care
benefits. HBWD not only encourages enrollees to work, but to
increase the number of hours they are currently working. Just as
the name says, the program provides health benefits for workers
with disabilities.
If you are an individual with a disability, between the ages of
16 and 64 and working, you may qualify for HBWD. Workers with countable
income of up to $1733 per month for a single person and $2333 per month for a couple may qualify
for the program. Unlike other Medicaid programs, HBWD allows
enrollees to have up to $10,000 in assets. Depending on their income,
enrollees pay a monthly
premium that ranges from
$0 to $100 to receive the full range of Medicaid services.
You may download an application or request
an application to be E-mailed. For more information please
call our hotline at 1-800-226-0768 (TTY 1-866-675-8440).
To have someone talk to your group or organization about the HBWD program, complete the HBWD Presentation Request.
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