Missouri Medicaid Eligibility Requirements

The Medicaid Program of Missouri provides medical coverage to Missouri residents who need help paying for their medical services. Missouri's Healthnet Medicaid coverage program applies to many people and covers hospital bills, prescription medication, nursing home care and numerous other medical services. There are numerous eligibility requirements for the Missouri Medicaid Program.

Coverage for the Elderly

• The Missouri Medicaid program offers medical health coverage to people 65 years of age and older who are in need of the financial assistance for their medical services. The program establishes that lawful Missouri residents who are 65 and older and whose net income is 85 percent of the federal poverty line qualify for Medicaid's Healthnet coverage services. For an individual, 85 percent of the poverty line comes out to $768 per month, and for a couple it stretches to $1,033.

Coverage for the Disabled

• Lawful Missouri residents who are disabled may be eligible to receive Medicaid health coverage. The Missouri Medicaid program states that people who are permanently disabled, have the appropriate doctors waivers and have a net income of 80 percent of the federal poverty line qualify for Medicaid's Healthnet coverage services.

Blind Pension

• Residents of Missouri over 18 who meet the official state definition of blindness are eligible for the Medicaid program. The benefits for blind residents include a cash grant of $575 each month and Healthnet's insurance coverage which applies to most medical services.

Low Income Families

• Missouri families that are defined as low-income households qualify to acquire Medicaid's Healthnet coverage. If your household income is below the poverty level, Medicaid will cover your monthly premiums and most other medical services. The determination of the poverty line depends on how many people reside in your household; for a household of just one member the federal poverty line is an annual income of less than $9,800. The poverty line reaches $13,200 for a household with two units, $16,600 for a family of three, and for households larger than three, add $3,400 for each additional member.

Coverage for Children with Developmental Disabilities

• Missouri children who have developmental disabilities may be eligible for Missouri's Medicaid program. The program states that a child under 21 years of age who lives in Missouri can obtain Medicaid's health coverage provided that the child is certified by the Department of Mental Health to receive waiver services and the child has a monthly income of less than $1,178.

Coverage for Pregnant Women

• The Missouri Medicaid program states that women who are pregnant may be eligible to receive Medicaid funding. The requirements for a pregnant woman attaining Healthnet medical coverage are that the woman must be able to show official verification of pregnancy, must be a Missouri resident intent on remaining in Missouri, and must have an income less than 185 percent of the poverty line, which for a unit of two--including the unborn child being cared for--comes out to an income limit of $2,247 per month.

Coverage for Nursing Care Patients

• If you are a patient in a nursing facility in Missouri, you might be eligible for Medicaid. The program states that if you are a Missouri resident over 21 years of age, in a health condition that requires the services of your chosen nursing facility but your income is less than the base rate of the given nursing facility, you qualify to receive Medicaid. The coverage for qualifying nursing patients includes monthly cash grants ranging from $156 to $390 as well as Healthnet coverage for most medical services.