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Can I Qualify for Medicaid if I'm on Unemployment in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania residents collecting unemployment compensation may find it difficult to adjust since the benefit is only a percentage of their typical earnings. When you lose your job, you also lose your insurance coverage. The Pennsylvania Medicaid program helps low-income families and individuals. If you meet the income guidelines for Medicaid, you may qualify regardless of the source of income.

  1. Eligiblity

    • To be eligible for Medicaid in Pennsylvania, you must currently live in the state. You must also be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant with proper documentation. You need to supply proof of identification, such as a driver's license, state issued ID card, Social Security number or certified copy of a birth certificate. You will also need to fall into an eligibility category to receive coverage. Medicaid is available to pregnant women, children, parents with children living in the household, elderly and disabled individuals.

    Income Restrictions

    • You must report all income for the household when applying for Medicaid. The Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, considers unemployment unearned income. Child support and spousal support are also sources of unearned income that must you should include in your gross monthly income total. The amount you receive and the amount of income you can earn to qualify depends on your eligibility group. For example, if you are applying for Medicaid for your child up to 5 years of age, your income can be up to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, or FPL. If you are applying for coverage for yourself as well, your household income cannot exceed 27 percent of the FPL.

    Asset Limits

    • You will also need to meet asset limits in addition to the income limits. Countable resources include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, trusts and multiple vehicles. Your home, primary vehicle and personal possessions are not included in the total. The asset limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple, at the time of publication.

    Unemployment Benefit Amount

    • Unemployment compensation benefits are generally equal to about half of the weekly payments you made during your highest earning quarter before losing your job. The state's maximum unemployment compensation payout at the time of publication is $583 per week. For a family of four, 133 percent of the FPL is equal to $2,477 a month. As long as your compensation payment keeps you within the income limit, you can receive Medicaid. You can file for unemployment benefits online or over the phone. Emergency unemployment compensation is also available to provide up to 53 weeks of payments to those who qualify.

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