Monday, December 28, 2009

Medicaid Income Eligibility Requirements In Texas

Medicaid benefits pay for prenatal care for eligible women.


Medicaid provides health insurance and services to low-income residents. Each state writes guidelines defining low-income for Medicaid purposes. Texas is an "income cap" state, so residents are ineligible if their incomes exceed limits set by the state. Eligibility income limits for Medicaid programs differ by program.


Pregnant Women


In Texas, low-income pregnant women are provided health insurance through Medicaid. Medicaid covers 20 prenatal visits, birth and two checkups for the mother after the birth. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, income limits for eligibility vary by family size and range from $1,670 for a family size of one to $3,400 for a family size of four, as of 2010.


Breast or Cervical Cancer


Texas also provides care to low-income women who need testing or treatment for breast or cervical cancer through the Medicaid Breast and Cervical Cancer program. The Texas Department of State Health Services administers the program and established income limits at 200 percent of the federal poverty level. For 2010, that limit ranged from $1,805 for a family size of one to $3,675 for a family size of four.


Nursing Home Care


Although Texas is an income cap state, a nursing home resident can put excess income into a Miller Trust and become eligible for Medicaid to pay for nursing home care. In 2010, according to ElderLawAnswers.com, the income limitation was $2,022 a month. Consult an elder law attorney about establishing a Miller Trust. The spouse's income does not count when determining eligibility for Medicaid.







Tags: family size, income limits, Breast Cervical, Breast Cervical Cancer, Cervical Cancer, family size family