Medicaid Guidelines in Kentucky

Medicaid is a health care program meant to help low-income and needy families afford medical services. Though the program is funded partially by the federal government, the program is mainly designed and administered by the individual states. The eligibility regulations for Medicaid can vary greatly depending on where you live. Kentucky's Department for Medicaid Services, part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, coordinates and manages the state's Medicaid programs, while the Department for Community-Based Services handles Medicaid applications.

Residency

• In order to qualify for Kentucky Medicaid, you must first be a resident of the state. You must also be a United States citizen or a legal alien. During the application process, you will have to provide proof of your identity, Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse and/or your children and proof of citizenship.

Eligible Groups

• Medicaid is not available to everyone. The main groups that qualify for Medicaid in Kentucky are dependent children under the age of 19, pregnant women and unemployed or low-income parents. This is considerably narrower than many other states, which generally also offer Medicaid to women with breast or cervical cancer and to the disabled. Senior citizens who are also Medicare beneficiaries may also qualify for the Kentucky Medicaid Savings Programs if they meet certain income requirements.

Income and Asset Regulations

• You cannot exceed Kentucky's maximum income level and resource test level and still be eligible for Medicaid. Your maximum income level depends on how many people there are in your family and whether or not you have children or are pregnant. The income levels are based on the current federal poverty level FPL). As of 2009, pregnant women and families with children under one year of age had a maximum income level of 185 percent of the FPL. Families with children aged one through 19 could make 150 percent of the FPL. Working parents could not make more than 62 percent of the federal poverty level, and non-working parents no more than 36 percent. Resource tests are not applied to children and pregnant women, but other individuals applying for Medicaid cannot possess more than $2,000 in cash, stocks, real estate and bank accounts.

Programs

• Kentucky has more than one Medicaid plan. Regular Medicaid covers most of the costs of medically necessary services for people who qualify. There are other, more limited programs as well. Medicaid Works is a program meant specifically for working people with disabilities. If they make less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level, employed persons with disabilities can use the Medicaid program in exchange for a monthly premium payment. The Medicare Savings Program helps provide payment assistance to certain low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Kentucky also offers the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment Program to children who also qualify for Medicaid, in order to detect medical problems in their early stages.