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AIDS Health Insurance Program (AHIP)
What is the AIDS Health Insurance Program (AHIP)?
AHIP is designed for people with AIDS or HIV-related disease who
are not Medicaid eligible, but cannot afford their own insurance.
The AHIP pays your health insurance premiums, excluding any required
co-payments and deductibles. You'll be able to keep your health
insurance and you can continue to see your same doctor and other
primary care providers.
What eligibility criteria must I meet to be in AHIP?
- You must have AIDS or HIV-related disease;
- you must be ineligible for Medicaid and have existing insurance
at the time of application for AHIP. (note: if you are eligible
for Medicaid, then Medicaid will pay your health insurance premiums
as well as other medical costs not covered by your health insurance);
- your monthly income can be no higher than $1,559* if you are
single or higher than $2,096* for a household of two.
* These figures are effective as of February 2007
and are updated periodically.
If your income is too high for the AHIP program, you may qualify
for a new health insurance premium payment program which started
July 1, 2000. The ADAP Plus Insurance Continuation Program (APIC)
is administered by the New York State Department of Health's AIDS
Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The program pays health insurance
premiums for people with HIV/AIDS who meet the eligibility criteria
for the ADAP program. An individual can have annual gross income
of up to $44,000, a family of two can have up to $59,200 and a
family of three or more can have up to $74,400. The resource limit
is $25,000 for individuals and families. If you are not eligible
for AHIP but think you are eligible for the APIC program, you can
obtain more detailed information and an APIC application by calling
the Client Advocacy Helpline at 212/367-1125 weekdays from 2:00
to 5:30 p.m.
Will AHIP count my assets when determining eligibility?
Unlike Medicaid, AHIP does not count assets, but AHIP will examine
any income generated by those assets. Income generated by assets
or resources is added to existing monthly income when determining
eligibility.
What documents will I need as proof of eligibility?
- For proof of citizenship: birth certificate, green card, naturalization
certificate, or passport.
- For proof of residence: rent receipt or copy of lease.
- For proof of income: SSI/SSD award letter, pay stub, unemployment
benefits statement, etc.
- For medical documentation: letter of diagnosis from doctor
or M11Q form.
- For verification of health insurance: insurance premium or
COBRA statement.
- Social Security card.
- Insurance card.
What is the application process for AHIP?
- You need to complete a Medicaid application. You can obtain
applications by calling the GMHC Advocacy Helpline at 212/367-1125.
Be sure to write AHIP across the top of the application (as the
same form is used for other programs).
- Once you have completed the application, you must call the
Client Representative Unit at 212/643-3617 to schedule an appointment.
- You or your representative can then deliver the application
to the Client Representative Unit at 330 West 34th Street, 11th
floor, New York, NY 10001.
When should I apply for AHIP?
As soon as possible. You must apply before the date your health
insurance coverage is scheduled to end. If you lose your health
insurance because you did not apply for AHIP before this date,
AHIP cannot replace the insurance you lose or buy new insurance
for you.
Can someone else apply for me?
Yes. A friend, relative, advocate or significant other can go
to the Medicaid office and apply for you as long as they bring
all of your required AHIP documentation.
The Client Advocacy Unit at GMHC is available to assist
you. For more information, please call our Helpline: 212/367-1125,
Wednesdays 2 pm to 5:30 pm. Walk-in services are availableTuesdays and Thursdays, 10 am to 1 pm.
Revised 3/07
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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