What are the hardest states to get Medicaid?

Asked by: Justina Stiedemann  |  Last update: February 16, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (63 votes)

The 10 worst programs—ranked in order from 50 to 41—are Mississippi, Texas, Idaho, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Colorado, Alabama, and Missouri, the report concluded.

What is the best state to live in for Medicaid?

25 States With the Best Medicaid Benefits
  1. Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, you have the advantage of an extensive health insurance program called MassHealth. ...
  2. New York. ...
  3. Vermont. ...
  4. Rhode Island. ...
  5. 5. California. ...
  6. Connecticut. ...
  7. Pennsylvania. ...
  8. Washington.

What states refused Medicaid expansion?

The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, was enacted in 2010, but 10 states have not expanded Medicaid, the federal-state program that provides health care for low-income people. They are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

What state has the highest Medicaid limit?

The state with the highest Medicaid income limit is Alaska, where households of eight people must have a maximum income of less than $77,526. Alaska Medicaid income limits also include the highest limit for households of one person, $22,597. Read on to find out all the Medicaid income limits by state.

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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Who gets denied Medicaid?

The most common reason an applicant is denied Medicaid is income or assets above the eligibility criteria. In most states in 2025, an applicant's monthly income must be less than $2,901/month, and their assets (including money in bank accounts) must be less than $2,000.

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.

How many states do not accept Medicaid?

To date, 41 states (including DC) have adopted the Medicaid expansion and 10 states have not adopted the expansion. Current status for each state is based on KFF tracking and analysis of state expansion activity.

Which state has the best healthcare for poor people?

  • Hawaii. #1 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Vermont. #2 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Massachusetts. #3 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Iowa. #4 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • South Dakota. #5 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Rhode Island. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Minnesota. #6 in Health Care Affordability. ...
  • Maine.

What are the four types of Medicaid?

There are four types of Medicaid delivery systems:
  • State-operated fee-for-service (FFS)
  • Primary care case management (PCCM)
  • Comprehensive risk-based managed care (MCO model)
  • Limited-benefit plans.

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.

Why don t many places accept Medicaid?

One reason is that reimbursement rates for Medicaid are lower than for Medicare or commercial insurance. Another (often overlooked) factor, however, is physician's risk of payment denials and the administrative hassle they face trying to get reimbursed by Medicaid.

What states offer free health insurance?

  • California. State offers public health coverage to all adults regardless of immigration status.
  • Colorado. State offers private health coverage with state subsidies to all adults regardless of immigration status.
  • Illinois. ...
  • Minnesota. ...
  • New york. ...
  • Oregon. ...
  • Washington. ...
  • District of columbia.

What state is the hardest to get Medicaid in?

The worst, in order from 50th to 41st, are in Mississippi, Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Indiana, South Carolina, Colorado, Alabama, and Missouri.

Can you keep Medicaid if you move to another state?

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program, with each state having its own eligibility rules. This means you cannot keep your Medicaid plan when you move to a new state.

Is there a downside to getting Medicaid?

Disadvantages of Medicaid

They will have a decreased financial ability to opt for elective treatments, and they may not be able to pay for top brand drugs or other medical aids. Another financial concern is that medical practices cannot charge a fee when Medicaid patients miss appointments.

What state has the best Medicaid program?

The top states—ranked from 1 to 10—are Massachusetts, Nebraska, Vermont, Alaska, Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and New Hampshire.

What state is #1 in healthcare?

Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Iowa, and Connecticut are the top-ranked states according to the 2020 Scorecard, which assesses all 50 states and the District of Columbia on more than 45 measures of access to health care, quality of care, service use and costs of care, health outcomes, and income-based health care ...

What happens in America if you can't afford healthcare?

Americans are no longer taxed for not carrying health insurance. Medical debt contributes to a large number of bankruptcies in America. Access to quality primary care is critical, but doctors have the right to refuse patients without insurance or who are able to pay out-of-pocket expenses.

What 10 states haven't expanded Medicaid?

Ten states—Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming—have not expanded Medicaid eligibility under the Affordable Care Act to individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level.

Which state has the most Medicaid?

California has more Medicaid and CHIP enrollees than any other state in the United States.

Can you get Medicaid in every state?

In all states, Medicaid gives health coverage to some individuals and families, including children, parents, people who are pregnant, elderly people with certain incomes, and people with disabilities. Some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover other adults below a certain income level.

Can Medicaid see your bank account?

This makes sense given Medicaid is a need-based program with financial eligibility requirements so they need to verify your assets. Medicaid agencies can check your bank account balances at any financial institution you've used during the month you apply or during a 5 year look-back period.

Do you have to pay back Medicaid if you get a job?

After you start working, your Medicaid coverage can continue, even if your earnings (alone or in combination with your other income) become too high to receive SSI.

How do I protect my income from Medicaid?

One such option to protect assets is a Medicaid Trust. By placing some of your assets in an appropriate trust, you can protect them from Medicaid and have them not be counted when you are applying for benefits.