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Medicaid & Disability

Medicaid pays for medical care for some people with low incomes, including many people with disabilities. Not all disabled people qualify for Medicaid, however. To qualify, you must meet specific income guidelines and also have limited resources. You must apply for Medicaid in the county in which you live and must provide proof of your household's income. If you apply for Medicaid because you have a disability, you must also provide proof that you are disabled.

  1. Medicaid

    • Medicaid is available in all 50 states, though in some states it goes by other names. For instance, in California people call it Medi-Cal. It covers a variety of health care services, including inpatient and outpatient medical care, medical tests, physical therapy, home health care, nursing home care, mental health care and prescription drugs. In some states, Medicaid for the disabled also covers dental care. Eligibility criteria vary from state to state and covered services also vary from state to state, though federal law mandates that all states must cover certain things.

    Social Security Disability Insurance

    • Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, provides disability benefits for some people who can't work due to disabilities. To qualify, you must have a disability or medical condition that prevents you from working for at least one year. You must also have worked for a certain amount of time in the past and paid into Social Security; how long you must have worked in the past depends on your age. People who receive SSDI can qualify for Medicaid if they meet income guidelines. Some SSDI recipients receive too much each month to qualify for Medicaid, though.

    Supplemental Security Income

    • Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, provides disability benefits for some people who can't work due to disabilities and who do not qualify for SSDI because they did not work long enough or pay into Social Security enough before becoming disabled. To qualify, you must have a disability or medical condition that prevents you from working for at least one year. You must also meet income guidelines and have limited resources. In some states, SSI recipients automatically qualify for Medicaid. In other states, they must apply just like anyone else. SSI recipients almost always qualify for Medicaid, though, because they all have low incomes.

    Other Disability Benefits

    • Some states offer short-term disability benefits, including New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, California and Hawaii. In addition, some people purchase private disability insurance policies. People who receive forms of disability other than SSDI and SSI may qualify for Medicaid if they meet the income guidelines in their states.

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