Medicaid is a government-sponsored health insurance program that provides coverage for certain individuals who meet income-based requirements. This program serves as a lifeline for those who are facing financial difficulties and require medical care.
What Does Medicaid Cover?
Medicaid covers a wide variety of healthcare services, including doctor visits and even dental care in some cases. Additionally, Medicaid benefits often apply toward prescription drugs, counseling services, and surgery.
Even though Medicaid covers a lot of common healthcare costs, there are some things it doesn’t cover. For example, Medicaid long-term care coverage is not available outside of medical long-term care situations, and coverage for cosmetic surgical procedures is not a covered expense under Medicaid. It should be noted that even though Medicaid long-term care in a retirement setting is not included in the program’s benefits, nursing home care to address medical needs is generally covered.
It’s Up to the State
As far as qualifying for Medicaid, this is left up to each state. Although Medicaid is regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it is administered on the state level. This means that each state will have its own qualifications, and Medicaid does not transfer from state to state.
In most cases, the main qualifier when applying for Medicaid is income. Since the program is designed to meet the needs of those with limited means, you will generally have to have little or no income to qualify for Medicaid. Once again, however, the threshold you will need to be under is up to your state.
Certain disabling conditions may also qualify you for Medicaid. As well, you may be considered dual-eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid if you are over the age of 65, are below the income threshold for your state, and/or have a disabling condition.
Qualifying as dual-eligible means that both Medicare and Medicaid can supply coverage toward your medical costs. This can be advantageous for some individuals, but both programs have limitations as to coverage and the ability to utilize coverage. Not every healthcare provider accepts Medicaid patients, so you may be limited in where benefits can be used.
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Mark writes often about estate planning. His articles may include topics like real estate closing attorney and business succession laws to help the people in needs. You can find his thoughts at elder law blog.
