How do I qualify for Medicaid?

Millions of Americans have their medical care covered by Medicaid, a government program that helps people pay for healthcare when they cannot afford to pay it themselves. However, not everyone can access Medicaid benefits, and there are some strict requirements to be able to qualify for this program.

What Do You Need to Qualify For Medicaid?

The specific requirements to qualify for Medicaid are dependent on what state you live in, but there are certain generalities that apply no matter where in the US you are. In New York, these requirements are as follows:

☐ You must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States

☐ The most basic requirement to qualify for Medicaid is that you must be a legal resident of the United States. This means you must be a citizen, you must be a permanent resident (i.e. you have a green card), or you must have some other similar legal status.

☐ You must live in the state where you receive Medicaid benefits

☐ While Medicaid is a federally funded program, it is administered by each individual state, and operates according to each state’s specific rules. This includes the requirement that you must live in whatever state where you are seeking Medicaid benefits.

☐ Your income must not exceed a certain amount

☐ In order to be able to qualify for Medicaid, you typically must not exceed a certain amount in total income. This is measured through something known as your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which takes into account things like tax deductions, student loan payments, Social Security payments and interest payments, among other things. The exact amount varies depending on things such as age, the number of people in your household, and so on.

☐ You must not have more than a certain amount in personal assets

☐ By the same token, you must not have more in personal assets than is permitted by your state’s laws. Just like with the income limits, the exact amount you are permitted depends on your specific circumstances. Additionally, not all assets are counted towards this limit, which can make calculating your total assets frustrating.

☐ You may qualify if you are part of certain other government programs

☐ Some people are able to bypass the income requirements if they already belong to certain other government programs. For example, if you already have successfully applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Social Security Administration, you may also be able to obtain Medicaid benefits at the same time.

What Can You Do if You Don’t Qualify For Medicaid?

If you do not qualify for Medicaid due to surpassing the income or asset maximums, you may still be able to obtain Medicaid benefits through a process known as Medicaid planning. This involves placing your assets in a so-called “Medicaid trust,” which is considered exempt when calculating your MAGI or asset maximums. To understand how this can benefit you, however, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling Medicaid planning matters, such as John Zaher.

If you are interested in obtaining Medicaid benefits, contact attorney John Zaher at 631-310-4655 or on his mobile phone at 631-375-8770, where he can be reached 24/7/365. He will help you explore your options and ensure you get the best chance possible of obtaining the Medicaid benefits you deserve.