Frequently Asked Question about Medicaid
If I have unpaid medical bills and
am not covered by private health insurance, will the Medicaid program pay
my bills?
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that pays for
home health aides, therapies, prescription drugs and hospital and physician’s
bills. Persons receiving Home Relief or Aid to Families with Dependent Children
are eligible for Medicaid. Disabled individuals of any age as well as those
who are medically needy under the age of 21 or over the age of 65 are eligible
for Medicaid benefits so long as they meet the financial criteria. Medically
needy individuals are those whose assets and income do not meet the cost of
necessary medical care. The Medicaid program will pay for their medical bills
once they have spent their assets and/or income which exceed the Medicaid
financial criteria on medical bills.
What are the Medicaid financial criteria for an adult Medicaid
recipient?
A Medicaid recipient may retain $3,750 in resources in addition
to a homestead in which he or she resides and a car. Income above $645/month
must be spent on medical needs. The resource and income levels of married
couples are higher.
What are the Medicaid financial criteria for a non-applying
spouse of a Medicaid recipient?
If the Medicaid recipient resides in a skilled nursing facility
or receives waivered home care services described below, the spouse may retain
$2,175/month in income and resources of between $74,820-$87,000. If the spouse’s
income is below $2,175/month after the Medicaid recipient’s pension
has been allocated to the spouse, then he or she may apply for an enhanced
resource allowance in order to generate the income necessary to bring monthly
income to $2,175/month. Spouses with assets greater than these may consider
planning options such as transferring excess resources or purchasing immediate
annuities or refusing to make these resources available for the support and
maintenance of the ill spouse.
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