In Florida, Medicaid provides low-income individuals with access to medical services and equipment. The Florida Department of Children and Families and the Social Security Administration manage the state’s plan. While the DCF is responsible for determining Medicaid eligibility for most Medicaid applicants, including children, disabled individuals, pregnant women and seniors, the Social Security Administration is responsible for determining the eligibility of those who receive Supplemental Security Income.
The Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care Program operates under the state’s Medicaid program and offers financial assistance to seniors who reside in assisted living facilities and nursing care homes. In addition to covering the cost of care, this program may provide seniors with other services such as dental care, medical care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nonemergency transportation.
To be eligible for this program, seniors must be at least 65 years of age and complete a comprehensive care assessment to determine their level of need. Financially, individual applicants can’t have an income that exceeds $16,040 annually while couples may not have an income over $21,599. A cap on the number of applicants this program accepts means the waiting list is usually fairly long.
Seniors can obtain more information regarding the application process and waiting list times by contacting the Florida Department of Elder Affairs at (800) 963-5337.