CASE SUMMARY - IMMIGRATION/BENEFITS

Priscilla

Priscilla is an infant living with an undocumented family from Ghana who has no income.  On a recent well-care visit to her pediatrician, Priscilla’s mother, Mary, informed the pediatrician that she lacked health insurance and was receiving a number of hospital-related bills stemming from her pre-natal care, Priscilla’s birth, and well child visits.  Thus, despite Priscilla’s need for on-going medical care, Mary was concerned about her mounting hospital bills.  The pediatrician made a referral over to the Medical Legal Partnership Project (MLPP). 

The MLPP attorney did an immediate intake of the family and assessed their eligibility for state cash assistance, food stamps, and health insurance.  The MLPP attorney determined that while Priscilla’s parents did not qualify for on-going assistance, her parent’s could still apply for state assistance on Priscilla’s behalf, since Priscilla was born in the United States and thus, is a US citizen.  Moreover, it was determined that while Mary was an undocumented alien, she still qualified for Emergency Medicaid to cover her labor & delivery expenses.   

The MLPP attorney assisted the family in obtaining the appropriate paperwork for the Department of Social Services (DSS) and within a couple of weeks, Priscilla had cash assistance, food stamps, and health insurance in place, that was retroactive to Priscilla’s birthdate.  Mary was also approved for Emergency Medicaid that covered all of her labor & delivery expenses and thus, substantially reduced her own hospital related debt.