Medicare & Medicaid Low-Income Dual Eligibility
Dealing with your health care becomes increasingly difficult, and expensive, as you age. For low-income couples or individuals, becoming seniors does not automatically create financial stability. In fact, the opposite can often prove true as the real costs of health care begin to add up. For many Americans, achieving Medicare benefits is not enough to cover the true cost of care. As a result, over 4.6 million low-income seniors are dual enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid – making up more than 17% of all Medicaid enrollees.
Many seniors need this dual enrollment support because Medicaid covers many costs which Medicare alone simply does not. For instance, Medicaid can help pay for additional nursing facility care, extra prescription drug costs, eyeglasses, hearing aids, plus other essential items and services. With rising health care costs and an aging population, senior citizens need and deserve as much support as they can get.
But how do you know if you qualify for dual eligibility? As of 2015, there are four different standards of qualification based upon monthly income and other factors. The basic Qualified Medicare Beneficiary limits in the continental U.S. are $1,001/month for individuals and $1,348/month for couples. The Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary limits in the continental U.S. are $1,197/month for individuals and $1,613/month for couples. The Qualifying Individual limits in the continental U.S. are $1,345/month for individuals and $1,813/month for couples. The Qualified Disabled Working Individual limits in the continental U.S. are $4,009/month for individuals and $5,395/month for couples. Some states, such as Missouri, also have benchmark premium plans for dual enrollees – meaning you may not have to pay a monthly premium for prescription drug coverage.
Do you qualify as a dual enrollee? Which standard applies to your situation? How can you pay for the real cost of my health care? These are important questions which the Medicare & Medicaid professionals at Senior Health Solutions, LLC can help you understand the answers to. When facing these important questions, you need reliable guidance. Contact the knowledgeable life insurance professionals at Senior Health Solutions, LLC by phone at (636) 244-4415 or online for advice you can trust.
