State Budget Success!

The General Assembly passed the state budget a few weeks ago, and the results for RIte Care families were great! Thanks to your hard work and advocacy, and a little help from the federal government, RIte Care came out ahead in the budget.

 

Monthly Premiums Decreased: 
The General Assembly repealed the premium increases that were enacted last year.  Some families covered by RIte Care were paying higher premiums this year, or paying premiums for the first time.  Now, premiums will return to previous levels.  That means some families who were asked to pay monthly premiums for the first time no longer have to do so, and the monthly premium for other families will go down a bit.   Rhode Island needed to make these changes in order to receive the increase in federal money promised by the federal stimulus legislation.  

 

Eligibility Increased:
RIte Care eligibility was restored to legally present immigrant children who have been in the US for less than five years.  Last year, the state stopped covering children in this category.  

 

Both of these changes went into effect on July 1, 2009. If you believe you are eligible for lower premiums or to become covered by RIte Care, please call the DHS Info Line at 401-462-5300.

Coverage levels remains the same:
The General Assembly also saved two important parts of the RIte Care program that had been proposed for cuts. First, dental benefits for 38,000 adults covered by RIte Care were preserved. And second, the “buy-in” program for pregnant women whose income is between 250% and 350% of the Federal Poverty Level. This program allows pregnant women without other medical insurance to buy RIte Care coverage during pregnancy and birth.