Please provide your zip code to see plans in your area.
A PROPERTY OF HEALTHINSURANCE.ORG, LLC, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY
Since 2011, we've helped more than 5 million visitors understand Medicare coverage.
A PROPERTY OF HEALTHINSURANCE.ORG, LLC, A NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY
Find Medicare plans that fit your needs.*
Enroll in a plan today.
* By shopping with our third-party insurance agency partners. You may be in contact with a licensed insurance agent from an independent agency that is not connected with or endorsed by the federal Medicare program.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1–800– MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Some Americans have incomes too high to qualify for aged, blind and disabled Medicaid benefits. In states with Medicaid spend-down, these people can use incurred medical expenses to become eligible for Medicaid benefits. The spend-down is sometimes called a “medically needy” or “excess income” program.
Applicants for the Medicaid spend-down usually have to meet the same asset limit for other aged, blind and disabled Medicaid enrollees. This asset limit is less than $2,000 for single applicants and $3,000 for married couples in many states.
When a person applies for the Medicaid spend-down, Medicaid determines the portion of their monthly income above the spend-down program’s income limit. This is known as excess income. Enrollees activate their spend-down coverage by showing they have paid or unpaid medical bills equal to this excess income over a specific period of time (one to six months). Some states also allow enrollees to pay their excess income directly to Medicaid.
Enrollees can use any medical services not reimbursed by an insurer (such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Medigap) to meet their spend-down. If an insurer reimbursed part of an expense, enrollees usually can only apply the amount that wasn’t reimbursed toward the spend-down.
The income limit for the Medicaid spend-down varies in every state, but is sometimes more restrictive than the regular income limits for Medicaid for the aged, blind and disabled.
A total of 33 states and D.C. offered Medicaid spend-down coverage as of 2018.
In some states, the Medicaid spend-down covers Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS), such as nursing home care or Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). But in many states the spend-down program does not cover LTSS.
The Medicaid spend-down only allows applicants to become eligible for Medicaid if they have excess income, and shouldn’t be confused with the process of spending-down assets.
Our guide to financial assistance for Medicare enrollees includes information about HCBS, Medicaid spend-down, Medicaid for the aged, blind and disabled – and more.
Every state provides Medicaid benefits to individuals who are 65 and older, blind or disabled. This coverage is sometimes called aged, blind and disabled Medicaid, community Medicaid, or SSI-Related Medicaid.
The term long-term services and supports (LTSS) encompasses an array of medical and personal care services for people who struggle with self-care due to aging, illness or disability. People commonly receive LTSS services for months or even years (and this is why LTSS are sometimes referred to as “long-term care”).
Our guide to financial assistance for Medicare enrollees includes information about HCBS, Medicaid spend-down, Medicaid for the aged, blind and disabled – and more.
Every state provides Medicaid benefits to individuals who are 65 and older, blind or disabled. This coverage is sometimes called aged, blind and disabled Medicaid, community Medicaid, or SSI-Related Medicaid.
The term long-term services and supports (LTSS) encompasses an array of medical and personal care services for people who struggle with self-care due to aging, illness or disability. People commonly receive LTSS services for months or even years (and this is why LTSS are sometimes referred to as “long-term care”).
