Can I have both employer insurance and Medicaid?

Asked by: Reggie Raynor  |  Last update: March 2, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (3 votes)

Yes, you can have Medicaid and private insurance at the same time.

Can you have Medicaid and other insurance at the same time?

It is possible for Medicaid beneficiaries to have one or more additional sources of coverage for health care services.

Is it illegal to have Medicaid and employer insurance?

The simple answer to the question of “can you have both Medicaid and private insurance?” is a resounding “YES”!

Can you have Medicaid and be employed?

A large majority of adult Medicaid beneficiaries who can work already do. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 62 percent of adult Medicaid beneficiaries who were not enrolled in Medicare and did not meet Social Security disability criteria were either working or in school.

What disqualifies you from Medicaid?

In general, a single person must have no more than $2,000 in cash assets to qualify. If you're over 65, the requirements are more complex. Whatever your age, there are strict rules about asset transfers. Medicaid may take into consideration any gifts or transfers of cash you've made recently.

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28 related questions found

Can you own a business and be on Medicaid?

While the simple answer is, “yes”, one can own a business (be self-employed) and still be eligible for Medicaid, the topic is more complicated. Certain factors, some state-specific, come into play when determining if business assets are counted towards Medicaid's asset limit.

Can I have medical and employer insurance?

Yes, it's possible! Explore your options for keeping Medi-Cal when you're employed — or transitioning to an affordable health plan — and how Covered California can help.

What happens if you make too much money while on Medicaid?

If you're over the Medicaid income limit, some states let you spend down extra income or place it in a trust to help you qualify for Medicaid. If you receive long-term care but your spouse doesn't, Medicaid will allow your spouse to keep enough income to avoid living in poverty.

Is Medicaid better than employer insurance?

Medicaid provides more comprehensive benefits than private insurance at significantly lower out-of-pocket cost to beneficiaries, but its lower payment rates to health care providers and lower administrative costs make the program very efficient.

Will I lose my Medicaid if I get Medicare?

People who have both Medicare and full Medicaid coverage are “dually eligible.” Medicare pays first when you're a dual eligible and you get Medicare-covered services. Medicaid pays last, after Medicare and any other health insurance you have.

Can I drop my employer health insurance for Medicare?

For example, you may be able to: Drop your employer coverage and enroll in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B. If you take this route, you might want to think about signing up for prescription drug coverage under Medicare Part D, and/or buying a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan.

Can you have two health insurances with Medicare?

If you have Medicare and other health insurance (like from a group health plan, retiree coverage, or Medicaid), each type of coverage is called a "payer." The "primary payer" pays up to the limits of its coverage, then sends the rest of the balance to the "secondary payer."

What does Medicaid not cover?

Though Medicaid covers a wide range of services, there are limitations on certain types of care, such as infertility treatments, elective abortions, and some types of alternative medicine. For example, the federal government lists family planning as a mandatory service benefit, but states interpret this differently.

Should I enroll in Medicare if I have employer insurance?

People still working at the age of 65 with employer health benefits may not need to sign up during the Initial Enrollment Period. They may qualify for a special enrollment period if they have qualifying insurance coverage from work.

How to determine primary and secondary insurance?

If you have coverage under a plan from your employer in addition to a spouse's or parent's plan, your own plan will be primary and the other plan will be secondary. This is also true if the additional coverage is with TRICARE or Medicaid, as those plans are always the secondary insurer if you have other coverage.

Does Medicaid actually check your income?

Some states use a computerized system to cross reference a Medicaid applicant's reported income. For instance, in California, an electronic database, the Income Eligibility Verification System (IEVS), is used to match the income information provided by the applicant to other databases to verify it is accurate.

Can I still have Medicaid if I work?

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY MEDICAID IF I GO TO WORK? In most cases, if you are blind or have a qualifying disability, regardless of age, and you have Medicaid before you go to work, your Medicaid will continue while you are working as long as your disabling condition still exists.

Why are people being kicked off Medicaid?

So, because states kept people on the Medicaid program for three years during the pandemic, there are a number of people who have had changes in circumstances, they have gotten new jobs, they have increased their hours at their existing jobs, and because of that increase in income, are no longer eligible.

Does employer health insurance count as income?

Health plans

If an employer pays the cost of an accident or health insurance plan for his/her employees (including an employee's spouse and dependents), then the employer's payments are not wages and are not subject to social security, Medicare, and FUTA taxes, or federal income tax withholding.

Can you have medical and another health insurance at the same time?

Having two health plans doesn't mean you'll receive full medical coverage twice. Instead, one policy will be your primary plan, and the other will be your secondary health coverage. This ensures the total amount your two plans will pay for your health expenses will never exceed 100% of the cost of those expenses.

Can I opt out of employer insurance?

Not Mandatory: You are not required to take your employer's health insurance if you don't want it; you can opt-out and choose another plan. Consider Coverage and Costs: Before opting out, compare your employer's plan with other options, considering both coverage and costs, including any potential tax benefits.

Is it illegal to have Medicaid and private insurance?

You can have Medicaid and private health insurance at the same time, and there are some advantages and disadvantages to doing so. In many cases, if you're eligible for both Medicaid and private insurance, your private insurance plan will be the primary coverage, and your Medicaid coverage will be supplemental.

Can Medicaid go after my LLC?

If your LLC is a true family business and you want to prevent the property in it from affecting your Medicaid eligibility, then you're probably fine. But if you created an LLC simply to accumulate assets you want to be exempt from Medicaid eligibility determination, then your plan of using an LLC may not be successful.

Can you own a home while on Medicaid?

Learn more about MERP. California eliminated their asset limit effective 1/1/24. While this means one's home is automatically safe from Medicaid while they are living, the home is not necessarily safe from Medicaid's Estate Recovery Program.