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Medicaid Requirements in Washington

Medicaid is a health insurance program for the indigent, elderly, poor and disabled. It is a joint federal and state program, though states determine coverage and eligibility specifics. The program covers children and their guardians, pregnant women with low incomes, the children of low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled.

  1. General Qualifications

    • To qualify for Medicaid in the State of Washington, the recipient must be a legal resident or citizen of the state of Washington, and financially needy. You cannot have more than $3,000 in countable assets -- some assets are exempt from asset ceilings for Medicaid qualification -- and your income must be near or below the federal poverty line for a family of your size in order to qualify. However, the Medicaid program typically covers children in the foster system. In Washington, you must be pregnant, a parent or guardian of a dependent under age 19, blind, over 65, disabled or have a family member who is disabled.

    Covered Services

    • In Washington, Medicaid includes several categories of coverage, with the broadest coverage included under the Washington Categorically Needy program. Medicaid covers basic medical services, emergency care, screening and diagnostic services, pregnancy care, infant care, check-ups and screening, prescription drugs, mental health services, nursing home services, HIV/AIDS case management, home health services, hospice care, and many other services.

    Income Limits and Eligibility

    • In order to qualify under state Medicaid rules, you must be a recipient or eligible to be a recipient of Aid to Families with Dependent Children, pregnant and low-income, a child born to a Medicaid recipient, receiving disability SSI payments from the Social Security Administration, blind, or a family with low income.

    Apple Health For Kids Eligibility

    • Apple Health for Kids is a Medicaid program specifically designed to provide health coverage to the children of low-income families. Sometimes children can qualify for Medicaid coverage even if their parents can't. The State of Washington has published a table of income eligibility for households with different numbers of people. As of April 1, 2010, a household of 2 people can qualify if their income is below $2,429 per month. A family of four must have an income below $3,675 per month. Families with higher income levels can qualify for a premium-based version of Medicare - typically between 200 and 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Line.

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