Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I replace a lost Medical Assistance Identification card?
- How can I get in touch with my Community Services Office?
- I moved to another area of the state. Do I need to notify someone at DSHS about my new address?
- How can I tell if my spouse and I or my children are eligible for medical assistance?
- I'm having trouble finding a provider who takes fee-for-service Medicaid patients. How can I find out which doctors and dentists are accepting Medicaid patients?
- I don’t believe I was treated properly by my doctor. The office no longer will let me talk to the doctor or make a new appointment. How can I file a complaint?
- I just had a baby. Will the hospital report this to DSHS or do I need to do it?
- I was enrolled in Healthy Options and now am told I must choose between health plans. Which one is the best?
- I am in Healthy Options and must pick a primary care provider. How do I do that?
- I have received a bill for a service that I thought Medicaid would cover. I cannot afford to pay it. What can I do?
How can I replace a lost Medical Assistance Identification card?
- The monthly card – sometimes called a coupon – is mailed out to every Medicaid client. If you lost or misplaced it, or if you never received yours, you should call the Community Services Office where your case is handled and talk to the workers there. They can have a new card sent to you.
How can I get in touch with my Community Services Office?
- call 1-800-562-3022, the Medical Assistance Customer Service Center, or you can use the locator that is posted on the DSHS Web site and enter your new ZIP code.
I moved to another area of the state. Do I need to notify someone at DSHS about my new address?
- You should call the Community Services Office closest to your new address. To find out where that is, go to the CSO locator and enter your new ZIP code.
How can I tell if my spouse and I or my children are eligible for medical assistance?
- The best way is to call the CSO closest to you or go visit it in person. That way you can talk specifically about your income and circumstances. Take your pay stubs and other financial proof of income along with you. If you want a general idea of your eligibility, you can use the benefit calculator and enter the information requested in the form.
I am a fee-for-service client and I am having trouble finding a provider who will see my children on Medicaid. How can I find out which doctors and dentists are taking Medicaid?
- Most providers’ offices will tell you if they are accepting new Medicaid patients by telephone. You can also call the medical or dental societies in your county and ask if they know of providers taking new Medicaid patients. If they cannot help you, call the Medical Assistance Customer Service Center (1-800-562-3022) and ask about Medicaid providers in your community. The center operators try to keep tabs on areas of the state where people are having problems finding providers, and they can often steer you to some providers who may be able to help.
I don’t believe I was treated properly by my doctor. The office no longer will let me talk to the doctor or make a new appointment. How can I file a complaint?
- call the Customer Service Center as quickly as possible. The number is 1-800-562-3022. The operators will take your complaint and have someone look into your case quickly.
I just had a baby. Will the hospital report this to DSHS or do I need to do it?
- In a perfect world, the hospital would take care of this, but clinics and hospitals often do not follow through. We urge every new mother to call the CSO and report a baby’s birth within a few days of delivery. The baby is automatically covered by Medicaid for the first few weeks (60 days) after birth, and your Medical Assistance ID card will cover the baby during this period. However, that coverage will expire after two months unless we enroll the baby separately.
I was enrolled in Healthy Options and now am told I must choose between health plans. Which one is the best?
- All of the plans offer full scope medical coverage, although some include special features that others don’t. So there is no overall “best” plan, except for the one that will fit best with your needs. It also makes sense for all members of the family to be treated by the same provider. If you want to continue with your current primary care provider, call him/her and ask which Healthy Option plan is accepted. We encourage you to look at the booklet you were sent when you were notified of your enrollment. It profiles all the plans available in your county and lets you compare the different benefits. Remember: If you don’t want to choose a plan, DSHS will choose one for you. And if you decide you don’t like the plan you are in, you can always switch. Healthy Options clients can change plans as often as they like. Just call your Community Services Office and let the workers there know you want to switch.
I am in Healthy Options and must pick a primary care provider. How do I do that?
- Each plan must post its provider network with DSHS, and the lists are posted on our Web site. Just visit our provider list and follow the instructions.
I have received a bill for a service that I thought Medicaid would cover. I cannot afford to pay it. What can I do?
- Medicaid usually covers the full cost of treatment for its clients, with rare exceptions, so providers normally would not bill you. First, call whoever is billing you to find out why they are billing you. If you still feel you should not have to pay it, call the Customer Service Center as quickly as possible. The number is 1-800-562-3022. The operators will take your complaint and have someone look into your case quickly.
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