Financial Qualification Rules for Pennsylvania Medicaid

Posted by Amelie McNab Leave Comment »

doctor image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com Medicaid will cover medical expenses for citizens of Pennsylvania who meet the financial requirements for eligibility. Medicaid is a government based health plan for citizens of each state to pay for health care and prescriptions if they have minimal income. In Pennsylvania, you are eligible to apply for Medcaid if you are pregnant, qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, receive Social Security supplemental income, or are a refugee. If you fall into one of these categories, you may be eligible for Medicaid. Also, all children are eligible for Medicaid if the household meets the income requirements. To determine if you meet the financial qualifications for Medicaid, you should review the federal poverty level for Pennsylvania.

Pregnant Women

In Pennsylvania, pregnant women can obtain Medicaid to help care for themselves during the pregnancy if they meet the income requirements. Pregnant women whose family income is below 133 percent of the federal poverty level may be eligible for Medicaid. For household financial qualifications, all unborn children count as a household member. After birth of the child, the mother and infant can retain Medicaid insurance as long as the mother continues to meet the income requirements.

Citizens of Pennsylvania who are 65 years of age or older or who are disabled may qualify for Medicaid if they meet financial eligibility. To qualify, the household income for the applicant has to be less than 76% of the federal poverty level for the area in which the applicant lives. Also, the applicant can have no more than $2,000 in assets, which includes money in checking accounts and investments. However, applicants can exclude one house and one car regardless of value.

All children whose families receive financial assistance through the federal program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families do qualify for Medicaid. All children under six years of age will qualify for Medicaid if their family household income does not exceed more than 133% of the federal poverty level. All children who are between the ages of six and 19 will qualify for Medicaid if their family household income is equal to or less than the federal poverty level.