“Medicaid Financial Eligibility in Pathways Based on Old Age or Disability in 2022: Findings from a 50-State Survey”

 

“Medicaid Financial Eligibility in Pathways Based on Old Age or Disability in 2022: Findings from a 50-State Survey,” by MaryBeth Musumeci, Molly O’Malley Watts, and Meghana Ammula, KFF

Quote:

“This issue brief presents state-level data on Medicaid financial eligibility criteria and adoption of the major non-MAGI pathways as of January 2022. It includes mandatory and optional pathways to full Medicaid eligibility as well as state options to expand Medicaid financial eligibility for people who need long-term services and supports (LTSS) in nursing homes or other institutions or in the community.”

 

LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform:

I’m often asked about state-level Medicaid financial eligibility rules. Today I have good news and bad news. The good news is that this publication by the Kaiser Family Foundation has tons of that information. The bad news is that Medicaid eligibility is so complicated—a Serbonian bog according to one jurist—that you may not be able to make much sense out of it. Still, this is a very valuable resource for those of us who can’t just shake our heads in dismay and ignore the subject. For the rest of you, here’s a useful, and much simpler, rule of thumb. Anyone with income less than the cost of a nursing home can qualify for Medicaid LTC benefits. Assets don’t matter because the big ones are exempt and the rest can easily be converted to exempt status. Is it any wonder people don’t worry about paying for LTC until they need it?