How Do You Apply for Medicaid Assisted Living?

You apply for Medicaid for assisted living by filling out an application on the Health Insurance Marketplace or submitting an application to your state Medicaid agency. Medicaid doesn’t pay for assisted living room and board, but it does cover some of the medical services provided to residents.

Medicaid is a health insurance program designed for people with limited financial resources. Although the program receives federal funding, the states administer it. Therefore, each state has different eligibility requirements. For example, Alaska has a monthly income limit of $1,751 for regular Medicaid, while Florida has a monthly income limit of $1,069 for the same type of coverage.

Medicaid covers medically necessary services, which are services needed to diagnose, treat, relieve or cure illnesses and injuries. For example, if an older person breaks a hip, there’s a good chance they’ll need physical therapy during the recovery process.

Medicaid also has waiver programs designed to help seniors who need help with activities of daily living. The waiver guidelines vary by state, but each program typically covers services related to eating, using the bathroom, getting dressed, bathing and managing medications.

Since Medicaid has income and asset limits, have the following documents available before beginning the application process:

• Tax returns
• Pay stubs
• Social Security statements
• Statements for all checking, savings and investment accounts
• Life insurance policies

You also need documents proving your identity and citizenship status, such as birth certificates, passports and state-issued photo identification cards. To find the Medicaid agency for your state, use the map on the Medicaid.gov website. If you prefer to apply via the Health Insurance Marketplace, visit Healthcare.gov.