Medicaid News Brief: DID YOU KNOW????

Stay on your toes.

August 1, 2008

Author: Cathy Roberts

Did you know that it's easier to qualify for Medicaid than it was a year ago, or even six months ago?

• Resource levels have gone way up!  Effective April 1, 2008, everyone on Medicaid can have savings up to the same levels as people in the Family Health Plus program!  That's $13,050 for a family of one and $19,200 for a family of two!

• Income levels have gone up too!  Effective April 1, 2008, single and childless couples can qualify for Medicaid with up to $673 in monthly income for a household of one and $840.00 for a household of two, regardless of the county of residence.

• Income levels for households of one and two in Medicaid's medically needy program are no longer frozen.  In fact, effective January 1, 2007, eligibility levels for caretaker parents and elderly or disabled applicants receiving income other than SSI, were raised to the SSI income level -- $725 monthly for a household of one and $1067 for households of two.

• And Medicaid no longer requires drug and alcohol screening or treatment!  Even for single and childless couples!  This change was also effective April 1, 2008.

Local Medicaid workers may not be abreast of all the latest in eligibility expansions.  For proof of these new rules, use the links below:

1. For the new Medicaid resource levels & elimination of alcohol and drug screening and treatment, use GIS 08 MA/013 at:  http://onlineresources.wnylc.net/pb/showquestion.asp?faq=105&fldAuto=3311

2. For the new income levels for single and childless couples, visit the DOH Medicaid page at http://www.health.state.ny.us/health_care/medicaid/  and scroll down to the heading "How do I know if my Income and Resources Qualify me for Medicaid?"

3. For the new Medically Needy program eligibility levels, use GIS 08 MA/005 at:  http://onlineresources.wnylc.net/pb/showquestion.asp?faq=105&fldAuto=3281