Working Healthy

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Many people with disabilities want to work but worry that doing so could jeopardize their vital health and long term care coverage. Working Healthy employment supports offer people with disabilities who are working or interested in working the opportunity to keep Medicaid coverage while on the job. Through Working Healthy people can earn more, save more, achieve their career goals, and still maintain their health coverage.

Working Healthy employment supports and programs are KanCare programs and eligibility includes Medicaid coverage and assistance with the costs of some Medicare programs.

Myths Around Employment & People with Disabilities

Working Healthy works everyday to bust these myths:

Social Security doesn't allow you to work.
Not True! Social Security has provided these work incentive programs to encourage people with disabilities to work.

Disability benefits will end if you go to work.
Not True! Working Healthy Benefits Specialists can provide counseling, so you will understand how earnings may affect your benefits.

A person with a disability is too ill to work.
Not True! Disability is not an illness. Many people with disabilities have health conditions that improve with the benefits of employment.

It is more difficult and/or more expensive to hire someone with a disability as opposed to someone without a disability.
Not True! Most accommodations requested of employers to support an employee with a disability are inexpensive.

Working Healthy Benefits Specialist Information

Working Healthy employment supports and programs are voluntary. By offering Benefits Counseling, at no cost, we want to assure that you can make an informed decision about whether these would be programs that meet your needs and goals.

If you are interested in learning more about Working Healthy and how you can work and keep your current benefits, it is best to talk with a Working Healthy Benefits Specialist. Here is a link to more information.

Benefits Specialists

Work Incentive Programs

Working Healthy — Work incentive program for people with disabilities who want to maintain their benefits.

Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK) — Program with services for people who enroll in Working Healthy and need personal Services.

Supports and Training for Employing People Successfully (STEPS) — New program of supports and training to assist people to explore, achieve and maintain employment.

Additional Information

Working Healthy is a medical work incentive program that allows the participant to:

Earn more income without loss of medical coverage
Accumulate assets
Eliminate spend down
Have the same KanCare coverage as other citizens of Kansas
Receive help with Medicare expenses
Have employer health insurance premiums be paid, in some cases
Receive personal assistance under WORK
Receive medically improved provision
Receive benefits planning and assistance

To qualify for Working Healthy and affiliated programs, a person must:

Have a disability determined by Social Security;
Be no younger than 16 and no older than 64;
Be employed (earning more than $65 per month, federal minimum wage or better, FICA withholding from wages or pay SECA if self-employed);
Have a total countable income of less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level;
Not be receiving Home and Community Based Services;
Not be an SSI recipient;
Not be living in a nursing facility; and
Have countable resources that are less than $15,000.

Fast Facts and Information

Premiums

There is a monthly premium charge for Working Healthy medical coverage when net income is between 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level; however, some income is disregarded in calculating the premium.

Education and Outreach

Working Healthy staff provide education about Working Healthy, WORK and other medical programs through KDHE. A priority of Working Healthy is to educate our community on how work impacts benefits and the safety nets available, so a person can test their ability to work without jeopardizing their benefits. Agencies and community partners are encouraged to request presentations on various topics and programs to learn more and better ways to serve their customers in achieving their employment goals. Benefits Academy Workshops can also be provided upon request.

To find out more, please contact your local Working Healthy Benefits Specialist, or contact Billie Crawshaw, Working Healthy Senior Manager, at 785-261-6122 or email billie.crawshaw@ks.gov. The Working Healthy team is here to support you, reduce concerns and provide choices for those interested in employment or increase their earnings.

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