Medicaid is a public health insurance program that helps more than 72 million low-income people across the United States pay for health care. Missouri’s Medicaid program, called MO HealthNet, provides medical care to approximately 840,000 people, which is about one-seventh of the state’s population. Missouri’s Medicaid participants include people with disabilities, pregnant women, children, seniors and other eligible groups.
Some of the many medical services that are provided by MO HealthNet include:
- Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
- Nursing home care
- Emergency ambulance transportation
- Home health care services
- Laboratory tests and X-rays
- Durable medical equipment
While Medicare is the main public health insurance program for older Americans, some seniors in Webster Groves may also be eligible for Medicaid. When seniors are eligible for both programs, Medicare is the
primary insurer. This means Medicare is billed first, and then Medicaid helps pay for any additional costs. This may include deductibles, co-payments and Medicare premiums.
Seniors may qualify for MO HealthNet if they meet the program’s
income standards. These standards vary based on household size and living situation. A low-income senior who receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and lives in their own household can have an income of up to $771 per month. A couple in the same situation has an income limit of $1,157 per month. Seniors who live in a family member’s household have a lower income limit. Single SSI recipients in this living situation can earn up to $514 per month, and couples can earn up to $771.
Online applications for MO HealthNet are available on the Missouri Department of Social Services website. Alternatively, seniors may send a completed
paper application to:
Family Support Division
P.O. Box 2320
Jefferson City, MO 65102-2320
Fax: (573) 751-3091
For help with your MO HealthNet application, call the
Missouri Department of Social Services at (855) 373-4636.
Supplemental Nursing Care Program Seniors who require assisted living care in Webster Groves may be eligible to receive funding from Missouri’s
Supplemental Nursing Care (SNC) program. Despite the name, it’s offered to people who live in licensed assisted living facilities and residential care facilities. The monthly cash payment varies depending on the type of facility. People in assisted living facilities can receive up to $292 per month, and people in residential care facilities may receive up to $156. In addition, SNC participants get a $50 personal needs allowance to spend at their discretion.
Seniors may be
eligible for this program if they:
- Live in a licensed facility
- Are eligible for MO HealthNet for the aged, blind or disabled
- Use all of their available income to pay for nursing care
To apply, complete a
paper application and submit it to the St. Louis Regional Nursing Home Office located at 413 Burris St., Fredericktown, MO 63645. Application decisions are typically made within 45 days. Within 90 days of receiving a decision, seniors have a right to request an appeal.
To learn more or to get help with your application, call the
Family Support Division Information Line at (855) 373-4636.