What is spousal Medicaid?

Asked by: Lavon Dach Sr.  |  Last update: August 22, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (59 votes)

It means that if your spouse applies for Medicaid in order to pay for nursing home care, your income as the well spouse—and a certain portion of your joint assets—will be protected from spend-down. 6. Further, if your own individual income is limited, Medicaid allows you to keep some of your spouse's income, too.

What is Medicaid spousal allowance?

Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMNA)

The MMNA ensures that the healthy spouse who continues to live in the couple's home maintains a certain amount of monthly income while their partner receives their Medicaid long-term care coverage.

How often does Medicaid check your income?

Yes, income and assets have to be verified again for Medicaid Redetermination. After initial acceptance into the Medicaid program, redetermination is generally every 12 months. The redetermination process is meant to ensure the senior Medicaid beneficiary still meets the eligibility criteria, such as income and assets.

Can one spouse be on Medicare and the other not?

Medicare is individual insurance, so spouses cannot be on the same Medicare plan together. Now, if your spouse is eligible for Medicare, then he or she can get their own Medicare plan.

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.

What is Spousal Refusal for Medicaid?

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What is Medicaid called in Hawaii?

Hawaii's Medicaid/CHIP is called Med-QUEST (QUEST stands for Quality care, Universal access, Efficient utilization, Stabilizing costs, and Transforming the way health care is provided to recipients).

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.

Can you own a car while on Medicaid?

An applicant is allowed to own one car that's not included in your resource limit if it's used for transportation or by another person living in the house, such as a spouse. You also don't have to be the driver of the vehicle. It's important to know that the value of the vehicle doesn't matter.

Can you make too much for Medicaid?

If the total of the income is below the limit, the applicant can be eligible for Medicaid, as long as they also meet their asset limit and level care of requirement. If the total is above the income limit, the applicant might be ineligible, but there are still methods they can use to become eligible.

What are spousal benefits?

The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.

Can Medicaid go after spouse's assets?

N/A – CA has no asset limit (eff. 1/1/24), and therefore, the Community Spouse Resource Allowance is not relevant.

What is the meaning of spousal income?

Once a divorce is final, you may receive (or pay) spousal or domestic partner support. This is called permanent or long-term spousal support. This is usually a monthly payment that can last for many years.

What affects Medicaid eligibility?

Medicaid beneficiaries generally must be residents of the state in which they are receiving Medicaid. They must be either citizens of the United States or certain qualified non-citizens, such as lawful permanent residents. In addition, some eligibility groups are limited by age, or by pregnancy or parenting status.

Does Kaiser Permanente accept Washington Apple Health?

Kaiser Permanente participates in Washington Apple Health through Molina Healthcare of Washington, a Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO).

Can you transfer Medicaid to another state?

One cannot transfer their Medicaid benefits from one state to another state, nor can they receive Medicaid benefits simultaneously in two states. Instead, one must close their Medicaid case, and hence their benefits, in their original state, and then reapply for Medicaid in the state to which they are relocating.

Is everything free with Medicaid?

States can impose copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and other similar charges on most Medicaid-covered benefits, both inpatient and outpatient services, and the amounts that can be charged vary with income. All out of pocket charges are based on the individual state's payment for that service.

What are the downsides of Medicaid?

Disadvantages of Medicaid

One of the primary reasons for this is that Medicaid reimbursements are lower than those of commercial insurers for most procedures and treatments.

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 one spouse be on Medicaid and the other not?

The spouse who needs the care must have limited financial resources to be eligible for Medicaid, but the non-applicant spouse still needs money to live in the community. Fortunately, Medicaid has “spousal impoverishment rules” to help couples in this situation.

What is the big mistake people make with Medicare?

Choosing the right Medicare plan can be confusing, and it's difficult to decipher all the language written into these plans and options. Medicare mistakes to avoid include missing your initial enrollment period, signing up for the wrong coverage, not paying your premiums, and assuming your spouse is covered.

What are spousal Medicare benefits?

Even though you may not be able to share coverage, there is one benefit that spouses can share. If either you or your husband, wife or domestic partner worked and paid taxes for at least 10 years, both of you can get Medicare Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums.