Medicaid: Are You Checking If Your Client Is Eligible For Help?
Are you making sure your clients are Medicaid eligible? A recent study published by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that agents in certain states might not. More than 500,000 people enrolled in Medicaid through expansion in nine states were actually ineligible for the program. The study observed Medicaid coverage over time in nine states and found the number of those who didn’t fit eligibility but were enrolled at half a million. With such a large number, we’d like to refresh your memory on what makes a person eligible.
Those Covered By Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal and state program that provides coverage for 72.5 million Americans. This program is the single largest source of coverage in the United States. It provides help with the medical cost for certain individuals with low income and resources. It also can provide benefits that may not be normally covered by Medicare such as nursing home care and personal care services. Those who are covered consist of:
- Low-Income families
- Qualified pregnant women
- Children
- Individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income
Rules Of The States
You must also know if your state has expanded its Medicaid programs to cover all people within household incomes below a certain level. While some states have expanded, others have not. Eligibility rules differ between states. In all states, you can qualify for the program based on income, household size, disability, family status, and other factors. In the states that have expanded the Medicaid coverage, you can qualify based on income alone. If your household income is below 133% of the federal poverty level, you qualify. Remember certain states use a different income limit.
Why Each State Differs
You might be wondering why each state’s guidelines are different. The reason being that the federal government only pays a portion of the costs. The program is administered and operated by states, and each state is a little different depending on the needs and goals. For more information on how to correctly sign your clients up for Medicaid visit, https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-and-you/index.html.
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