Aged, blind, and disabled (ABD) Medicaid provides coverage for a broad range of health services, including doctors’ visits, hospital care, and medical equipment if:
- You are 65+, blind, or have a disability A disability is any condition of the body or mind (impairment) that makes it more difficult for the person with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines disability—and eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI)—based on whether you can work and whether your disability is likely to be permanent. (Definition from the World Health Organization)
- And, you meet the financial eligibility requirements
In many cases, Medicare and Medicaid will work together to cover your health care costs. Medicaid also pays for some services that Medicare does not cover, such as transportation to medical appointments, certain dental services, and additional home care.
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Get Help Applying for Medicare Cost-Savings Programs
If you live in New York, the Medicare Rights Center can help you enroll in various Medicare cost-savings programs. Please answer a few questions to see if we can connect you with a trained benefits enrollment counselor.
Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Each state offers a SHIP, partly funded by the federal government, to give you free counseling and assistance. A SHIP counselor may be available by phone or in person.
Visit www.shiptacenter.org to find your local SHIP office.
Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program
Based on the information you provided, you do not appear to be eligible for Medicare cost-saving programs.
[glossary_exclude]Each state offers a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), partly funded by the federal government, to give you free counseling and assistance. A SHIP counselor may be available by phone or in person.[/glossary_exclude]
Visit www.shiptacenter.org to find your local SHIP office.
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Even if your income and assets Assets are resources such as savings and checking accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, retirement accounts, and real estate. are higher than your state’s ABD Medicaid guidelines, you should still apply. This is because:
- Certain kinds of income may not be counted (such as what you pay for health insurance), and all states exclude at least $20 of all income.
- Income limits may be higher if there are more than two people in your household.
- The first $65 of your monthly earned income Earned income is money you get because you work, such as wages from work or earnings from self-employment. will not be counted.
- One-half of your monthly earned income (after the first $65 is deducted) will not be counted.
In addition, some states offer a Medicaid spend-down program or medically needy program for individuals with incomes over their state’s eligibility requirements. This program allows you to deduct your medical expenses and some other health care costs from your income so that you can qualify for Medicaid. Contact your local Medicaid office to learn if a spend-down is available in your state.