What is Medicaid?
Designed to help those with low income and the needy, Medicaid is a health insurance program funded jointly at the Federal and state levels. Coverage extends to children, the elderly, blind or otherwise disabled people, and those who are eligible to receive Federal income assistance payments.
Currently, 32 states and the District of Columbia provide Medicaid to those who are also eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits, also known as SSI. In those participating states, the SSI application also acts as the Medicaid application, and eligibility for both starts at the same time.
If a recipient lives in a state that provides Medicaid to people on SSI, the recipient will continue to be eligible for Medicaid, even if they are still working. Medicaid coverage can continue even if a person’s earnings along with their other income become too high for SSI cash payment, as well.
How does a recipient qualify?
In order to qualify for Medicaid, a person must:
- Have been eligible to receive SSI payments for at least one month
- Currently be disabled
- Meet all other eligibility rules, including the resources test
- Require Medicaid in order to work
- Have a gross income too low to replace SSI, Medicaid, and any publicly funded attendant care
For more information, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services oversees State administration of Medicaid here: http://www.cms.hhs.gov.
Florida Medicaid application rules and eligibility can be very complex, and there are many rules that need to be adhered to in order to be approved. Hiring an attorney to help with the process is a great way to ensure that all bases are covered to make sure you get the benefits you are entitled to by law.
To schedule your consultation, or to speak to an attorney, contact the BCN Law Firm in The Villages today at 352-775-4739.
