Medicaid Eligibility Requirements for Parents

Medicaid was introduced by congress as part of Johnson's Great Society programs in 1965. Originally rolled out at the same time as Medicare, Medicaid provides basic health care and health insurance to the economically disadvantaged, including the handicapped, the poor, the indigent, small children, adopted and foster children and pregnant women.

Overview of Medicaid

• Since Medicaid is actually run by state government, there is no single set of eligibility criteria that every state uses. Each state is free to set its own requirements for Medicaid eligibility and enrollment. They must all meet certain minimum standards, however, to quality for federal funds.

Asset Requirements

• Typically, you cannot qualify for Medicare if your total assets are higher than a figure established by the state legislature where you live. Each state sets its own rules, however, and most states do not count certain classes of assets. For example, many states exclude a certain amount of home equity from the calculation. Assets that are excluded from the calculation are called "non-countable assets." If your assets are higher than the level allowed by the state, you must first spend down your personal resources to under a few thousands of dollars before you can qualify for Medicaid.

Income Requirements.

• In addition to the asset requirements described above, your monthly income cannot rise above a certain level, defined by the state government. If you make too much money, you may be disqualified. The amount of income your family may earn is typically defined as a percentage of the federal poverty level for a given sized family. If your family income is at or near the poverty line established by the federal government, and you meet the asset criteria, chances are good you will qualify for Medicare.

CHIP Programs

• Even if your family does not qualify for Medicaid, you may still qualify for health care assistance through your state's Childrens Health Insurance Program, which now covers some 11 million children nationwide. Contact your state's department of health and human resources for more information.

Other Considerations

• You do not need to be a citizen for your child to qualify for Medicaid. Your child must be a citizen or a legal resident, however. Your child may qualify regardless of your legal status. If you were covered by Medicaid while you were pregnant, your child is automatically covered as well, for the first year. You do not need to be on welfare to qualify for Medicaid.