A decades-old injustice impacting Pennsylvanians with disabilities ends today as Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities: Workers with Job Success takes effect.

Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities is a state health insurance program for individuals working with disabilities or chronic health problems. MAWD provides comprehensive health insurance coverage at a low cost, but with significant limitations. MAWD recipients are not permitted to earn more than 250% of the federal poverty level per month and are prohibited from having assets (like bank accounts and retirement savings) over $10,000. Worse still, many citizens with disabilities choose not to marry to avoid combining finances as exceeding the limitations would cause them to lose vital benefits.

As of April 1, working Pennsylvanians with disabilities (who have been on MAWD for 12 consecutive months) will be able to enter into the new category called Workers With Job Success. This meaningful change will allow Pennsylvanians with disabilities the freedom to pursue better jobs — which benefits them and the community at large, choose when they get married, and strengthen their financial safety nets.

For more details including eligibility and how to enroll in MAWD: Workers with Job Success, visit the Pennsylvania Health Law Project (phlp.org).

Bobbi Watt Geer

Greensburg

The writer is president and CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

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