Ohio Low Income Health Insurance Guidelines

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people in Ohio turn to Medicaid health coverage to keep their families healthy. Applying is simple and straightforward, and can be done at your county Jobs and Family Services office. However, depending on your family's size and situation, income guidelines for Medicaid programs differ significantly.

Ohio Medicaid for Low-Income Residents

• Ohio Medicaid is a government-subsidized health insurance program that covers limited-income individuals and their families. Ohio Medicaid covers preventative medical exams, emergency care, prescriptions and some dental and vision treatments. While the coverage for these items is usually stricter than private health insurance plans, Ohio Medicaid is a program that keeps hundreds of thousands of low-income people healthy.

Healthy Start and Healthy Families

• In the state of Ohio, obtaining Medicaid (Healthy Start and Healthy Families) insurance for your children is easy. The income thresholds for child-only coverage, as well as the coverage of pregnant women, is at 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or FPL.

  A family of four can obtain child-only Medicaid for their kids up to age 19 in Ohio if the family has $3,675 or less in monthly income (this, and all figures in this article, are as of 2009). For a family of three, the maximum monthly income is $3,052. A family of two is capped off at $2,429.

  A single pregnant woman with no other children and who lives alone can obtain Medicaid coverage for herself and her fetus(es) if she makes no more than $1,805 per month. If the pregnant woman has other dependents, the income limits are the same as for child-only coverage listed above.

  Covering an entire family on Medicaid in the state of Ohio has stricter income guidelines, which are currently set at 90 percent of the FPL. A family of four cannot have more than $1,654 in income each month in order for the entire family to qualify. Families of three are capped off at $1,374 and families of two at $1,093 per month.

Low-Income Seniors & Those with Disabilities

• Medicaid also covers low-income senior citizens and those with disabilities.

  For seniors and disabled people, the income limit for a couple is $1,011 per month. The couple must also have less than $2,250 in resources. For individuals, the income limit is $589 per month and less than $1,500 in resources.

  Some disabled adults also have the ability to buy-into Medicaid if they meet certain income requirements. This is much less expensive than private health insurance and can save low-income disabled people a lot of money. The buy-in program is for individuals only, and premiums will vary based on income level.

  Disabled individuals who are within 250 percent of the FPL and who have less than $10,580 (as of 2009) in resources are eligible to buy-into the Ohio Medicaid program, however, only individuals that are within 150 to 250 percent of the FPL will be required to pay the premium.

  The income requirements of Ohio Medicaid programs change annually, along with the federal poverty level.