When you fill out an application for Pennie coverage, you will be asked several questions about your disability status. Please answer the questions accurately to ensure that you are able to enroll in the right coverage.
If you have one or more of these conditions, you are considered to be an individual with a disability for the purposes of your Pennie application:
- You're blind, deaf, or hard of hearing.
- You receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI).
- You have a physical, cognitive, intellectual, or mental health condition, which causes one or more of the following:
- Difficulty doing errands, like visiting a doctor's office or shopping.
- Serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
- Difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
For children, these conditions are considered disabilities:
- Limited ability to do the things most children of the same age can do.
- Require or use more health care than is usual for most children of the same age.
- Receive special education services or services under a Section 504 plan.
If you indicate on your Pennie application that you are disabled, Pennie will send your application to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to determine whether you are eligible for Medicaid based on your disability. If you don’t qualify for Medicaid based on your disability, you may still be eligible based on your income.
If the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania determines that you don’t have a qualifying disability and don’t qualify for Medicaid based on your income, you can still buy health coverage through Pennie and may qualify for financial assistance. Plans can’t deny you coverage or charge you more because of a disability or pre-existing condition.