Close to a million Maryland residents receive free or low-cost health insurance coverage through Medicaid, the government-funded health care program for Americans who have limited income and resources. Of this number, one in five residents are elderly, blind or disabled.
The Maryland Department of Health administers the state Medicaid program known as Medical Assistance. The program provides a wide range of health care benefits to eligible Maryland residents of all ages, including children, pregnant women, disabled adults and seniors. Covered benefits include doctor visits, clinic and hospital services, prescriptions, home health care services and long-term care in a nursing facility.
Baltimore residents must be U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents and aged 65 or older or disabled to qualify for MA home and community-based long-term care coverage. Those approved for Supplemental Security Income benefits are enrolled in MA automatically. Others who apply must meet specific financial criteria of:
- A maximum monthly income of $2,313 per person whether single or married
- Up to $2,000 in total countable assets for single applicants
- Up to $3,000 in combined countable assets for married co-applicants
All sources of income count toward the MA eligibility limits, along with assets, such as cash, bank account balances, stocks, bonds and investment real estate. Some assets are excluded, including one vehicle, personal belongings, an owner-occupied home valued up to $585,000 and household effects.
Community First Choice Services Program
Maryland’s MA program offers the Community First Choice Services program to give seniors the option of receiving long-term care support services in a community setting, such as an assisted living facility. To qualify, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for MA coverage and need assistance with basic activities of daily living. The program’s goal is to help seniors avoid premature nursing home admission by providing a range of support services, such as:
- Support planning
- Personal care
- Monitoring by a nurse
- Personal emergency response systems
- Assistive technology
- Transition assistance to relocate from a nursing facility
Baltimore seniors can apply for MA coverage online or call (800) 332-6347. To learn more about the CFCS program or apply, seniors can contact the city’s Maryland Access Point helpline at (410) 396-2273.
Maryland Home and Community-Based Waiver Programs
Maryland currently offers two waiver programs to help seniors with MA long-term care coverage who are currently living in nursing homes transition back to a community setting, such as an assisted living facility. The Community Options and Increased Community Services waiver programs provide case management, transition assistance and a range of similar support services, such as personal care assistance, nutritionist services, assistive technologies, nurse monitoring and personal emergency response systems.
Each waiver program has financial requirements that must be met. The two programs have the same asset limit of $2,000 to $2,500, but different income limits:
- With the Community Options program, individual applicants are limited to $2,313 per month.
- With the Increased Community Services program, seniors must have an income less than the state rate for nursing home care, which is currently about $6,813 per month. However, they must contribute any income over $2,313 toward their care costs.
For more information on the CO waiver, seniors can contact Medicaid Long Term Care and Waiver Services at (410) 767-1739. To learn more about the ICS waiver, seniors can call the Baltimore MAP helpline at (410) 396-2273.