Medicaid is an option for Illinois residents who cannot afford private health insurance or are not eligible for benefits through their employer. Although federally-funded, each state offers its own Medicaid program. If you are interested in applying for Medicaid, you must meet certain requirements. After determining if you are eligible, visit your local Illinois Department of Human Services in person or online to apply.
Eligibility
Medicaid is available to children, parents or caretakers of children in the household, pregnant women, medically needy, elderly, disabled or blind and those with breast or cervical cancer. Medicaid covers nursing home costs for seniors who require long-term treatment.
Income
For some eligibility groups, the income limit is based on household size. You cannot exceed a certain percentage of the federal poverty level (FPL). For example, if you are applying for a child in a household with two parents, the limit is 133 percent of the FPL, which is $24,352 a year for a household of three in 2011. Medically needy adults cannot earn more than 40 percent of the FPL. A medically needy individual is one who qualifies for Medicaid after deducting their medical expenses from monthly income. If you are applying for an infant, you are allowed up to 200 percent of the FPL. All sources of income, both earned and unearned, are considered.
Assets
Illinois Medicaid restricts the amount of assets an applicant can have to be deemed eligible. Pregnant women and children do not have asset limits. If you are applying for nursing home assistance, you cannot exceed $2,000 in countable assets for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. A medicaid spend-down is an option for those who have too many resources to qualify. A spend-down is the process of reducing assets to qualify for coverage. Your home, vehicle and personal possessions are not included in the asset limit.
Documents
Medicaid will require certain documents to process your application. You must supply proof of identity and citizenship, such as a birth certificate, government-issued identification card or immigration documents. You will need to provide Social Security numbers for all household members. Medicaid will require proof of all assets, including bank accounts and vehicles. Recent pay stubs and bank statements are also needed.
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