Learn How To Apply For Medicaid With Our Guide

Learn How To Apply For Medicaid With Our Guide

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UPDATE: In 2020, Medicaid will have most of the same requirements and application steps detailed below.

Learning how to qualify for Medicaid in Alabama will help ensure that you meet the state’s Medicaid eligibility requirements. Every state program has a specific set of conditions that need to be met. By understanding what the income requirements are for Medicaid in Alabama, applicants can increase the chances of being accepted for the long-term care program.

Residents that meet the other Medicaid eligibility requirements will most likely be accepted into the program. Alabama’s Medicaid coverage widened after 2010 due to the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Nevertheless, not all gaps in coverage have been filled completely.

What Are the Income Requirements for Medicaid in Alabama?

The main reason why residents of Alabama need Medicaid coverage is that they survive on a low income. If an applicant has asked “What are the requirements for Medicaid?” he or she will need to provide income history and other pertinent documents in the application process.

Overall, income will be assessed to determine what level of health care for which the applicant and his or her household qualifies. What is considered income, in terms of Medicaid requirements? Here are a few examples:

  • Wages, salaries and tips
  • Pensions or retirements
  • Unemployment compensation
  • Lump-sum distributions
  • Alimony
  • Social Security benefits
  • Veterans benefits
  • Dividends and any accrued interest

Be aware that SSI and welfare are not identified as income for Medicaid in Alabama, because the rules for Medicaid benefits eligibility clearly state that these payments are not considered earnings.

In addition to actual cash, specific resources will also be evaluated to determine how much coverage the Alabama Medicaid program is willing to provide for beneficiaries certified in one of the following programs: the Plan First (Family Planning) Program, Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, Elderly & Disabled Program, Emergency Services for Aliens Program and Former Foster Care Children Program.

Resource appraisal to decide who is eligible for Medicaid will cover the following:

  • Property
  • Stocks and bonds
  • Credit union accounts
  • Bank accounts
  • Annuities
  • Mutual funds
  • Loans

When learning how to qualify for Medicaid in Alabama, there’s a chance that property may not be counted as a resource in the case of an institutional Medicaid application. Life insurance, burial space items and household goods will not affect who is eligible for Medicaid. Residents who live in the community or inside a home following the institutionalization of a spouse may have special provisions.

What Are the Application Guidelines for Medicaid in Alabama?

So, who is eligible for Medicaid? Medical eligibility requirements state that applicants must be residing in Alabama at the time of applying. Proof of identification will be necessary to confirm U.S. citizenship. Age and income requirements will be assessed and these requirements can vary, depending on which program is applied for.

Keep in mind that just because a program is suitable for one person, this does not mean that it will be suitable for someone else. Health status certainly plays a role, and for this reason, it is imperative to gain awareness of the Medicaid application form guidelines in Alabama. In general, this program is suitable generally comes down to four main criteria:

  1. Resources/Assets
  2. Age
  3. Family size/Income
  4. Medical requirements

The easiest way to know if Medicaid eligibility requirements are met is to apply. The local Medicaid office will determine who is eligible for Medicaid based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income.

In the event that you are not approved for this government insurance program, it may be worth going down the route of alternative benefit plans. Presumptive Eligibility (PE) is granted in some hospitals across Alabama and with this form of care, short-term Medicaid eligibility determinations can be made for pregnant women, adults, parents, children and foster care children.

Learn About Medicaid Groups in Alabama

Medicaid benefits eligibility depends on which mandatory eligibility groups the recipient falls into. The Alabama Medicaid Agency focuses on the categorically needy by assessing individual circumstances to make an application decision. Let’s take a look at the typical Medicaid benefits eligibility groups and what they entail:

  • Former Foster Care Children – For a child to fall under these Medicaid eligibility requirements, he or she must have aged out of Alabama’s foster care system.
  • SSI-Related – A disabled adult, widow/widower and mothers of SSI children will be categorized as SSI-related.
  • Medicare-Related – Specified low-income Medicare beneficiaries, as well as qualifying income individuals and qualified disabled working individuals, will be in this eligibility group.
  • Parents and other Caretakers Relatives – The poorest of the poor families will be covered under Section 1931 of the Social Security Act.
  • Pregnant Women, Children and Plan First – Plan First at 146% Federal Poverty Level and children aged 0-18.
  • Optional Federal Categories – Optional services provided under the Home and Community Based Waivers program are designed to provide Alabama agencies with cost savings. They include Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, HIV/AIDS waiver, Technology-Assisted waiver for Adults, and Persons with Intellectual Disabilities waiver.
  • Other – Title IV-E covers adoption and foster care. AL optionally covers certain children up 21 years of age, but does not cover TB infected individuals.

How the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has Affected Medicaid Acceptance

Since the ACA has been in effect, approximately 46 percent of uninsured non-elderly Alabamians have met Medicaid eligibility requirements. Three in ten qualify for premium tax credits to aid them in acquiring Medicaid coverage. Additionally, 74 percent of uninsured Alabamians are children. 191,000 total uninsured adult recipients lack funding for health coverage in the state.

One of the goals of the ACA is to expand coverage. Alabama citizens are encouraged to focus on Medicaid application guidelines as a way of lowering the state’s uninsured rate. Lack of knowledge on the subject is the main reason why state residents are not enrolled in the program. The state has a more streamlined acceptance process in place now, and coverage naturally depends on which qualification pathway is taken.