The federal government established the Medicaid program in 1965 to ensure basic health care coverage for Americans with limited income and resources. Today, more than 65 million individuals, including 2.6 million in Ohio, are covered by federal and state government-funded Medicaid programs from coast to coast. The Ohio program, managed by the Department of Medicaid, provides coverage to one in five state residents through managed care plans. The health care benefits that eligible residents receive include:
- Primary and specialist care
- Inpatient, outpatient and emergency hospital treatment
- X-rays and diagnostic tests
- Ambulance and nonemergency medical transportation
- Long-term care in a nursing home
Qualifying for Ohio Medicaid Hilliard residents can qualify for medical and long-term care coverage through Ohio Medicaid if they’re American citizens or legal immigrants and:
- Aged 65 or older or under 65 and blind or disabled
- Have no more than $2,313 of income per month as an individual or $4,626 as a married couple applying jointly
- Own $2,000 or less in countable assets if single or $3,000 combined countable assets if applying with a spouse
Seniors who need Medicaid coverage for long-term care but don’t meet the income and/or asset limits have several qualification options:
- Those with excess income can set up an irrevocable Qualified Income Trust. Every dollar earned above $2,313 per month ($4,626 for couples) must be deposited into the trust where it no longer counts toward the limits. Once deposited, the funds can only be withdrawn to pay certain approved care- and medical-related expenses.
- Married applicants who exceed the income/asset limits may reduce both amounts to the required thresholds if their spouse doesn’t apply. According to Medicaid rules against spousal impoverishment, the non-applicant may be allowed to keep up to $3,160.50 of the applicant’s monthly income and retain up to $126,420 of the couple’s joint assets.
To learn more about Ohio Medicaid coverage for long-term care or to apply, Hilliard seniors can visit the
Ohio Benefits website or call the Medicaid consumer hotline at (800) 324-8680.
Assisted Living Waiver Nursing home care is the only long-term care entitlement provided by the Ohio Medicaid program. The state does offer an
Assisted Living waiver that gives elderly residents an alternative to institutional care. The waiver’s goal is to decrease nursing home admissions in favor of less costly community-based long-term care that lets seniors enjoy greater independence and a higher quality of life. To be approved for the ALW, Hilliard residents must:
- Meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid long-term care
- Be assessed as needing a nursing-home level of care but able to live in the community without safety concerns
- Need help performing daily living activities, such as bathing, grooming, dressing and eating
- Have sufficient monthly income to pay the room-and-board portion of their assisted living facility fees
For those who are approved, the waiver covers the cost of many support services, such as:
- Transition assistance to relocate to a community setting
- Assistance with personal care and daily living activities
- Medication oversight and administration assistance
- Social and recreational programming
- Laundry and housekeeping services
- Intermittent nursing services
The ALW isn’t an Ohio Medicaid entitlement program, and participation is limited statewide. Those who are approved may be placed on a waiting list depending on current enrollment numbers. For more information about the ALW program or to schedule an eligibility assessment, Hilliard residents should contact the
Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging at (800) 589-7277.