If you’re like many seniors, you may be living on a limited income. You might also be getting your health care through Medicare. Medicare typically has costs associated with it, meaning you must stretch your dollars even further, which can be challenging. But Medicaid may be able to help.

Unlike Medicare, where eligibility is based primarily on age, Medicaid eligibility depends on income level. If you qualify for Medicaid, and you’re dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, Medicaid can help you with medical expenses beyond what Medicare typically covers.

Medicaid programs differ by state. Learn more, including if you’re eligible, which programs might be most helpful in your situation, what Medicaid can cover and how to help loved ones get the coverage they need.

Is Medicaid available for seniors?

Unlike Medicare, Medicaid doesn’t have an age requirement. Instead, eligibility is based on income, resource limits and other things. So, anyone of any age who may be eligible can apply, including seniors.

Medicare is broken into four parts (Medicare Parts A, B, C and D) where you may pay premiums, deductibles and copays, which can be difficult for seniors living on a limited income. That’s why Medicaid is especially helpful for older adults, because while Medicare provides basic health coverage, Medicaid is medical assistance that pays for things Medicare doesn’t.

If you don’t qualify for Medicaid as a senior, you may be eligible for a Medicare savings program or for help paying your Medicare costs. This includes assistance with paying your Part B premium or a Part D prescription drug plan, and more.

The benefits of Medicaid for seniors

There are a lot of things Medicare covers, and a lot it doesn’t. Medicaid can fill in the gaps, and it can be low-cost or free for seniors. Benefits include:

1. Help with paying out-of-pocket medical expenses like copays, premiums, deductibles and other costs associated with Medicare Advantage plans
2. Coverage for additional services beyond those provided under Medicare, such as nursing facility care beyond the 100-day limit of each benefit period, and coverage for vision, hearing and prescription medicines
3. Paying for senior services like in-home health care, or paying a spouse or relative to be a caregiver

What Medicaid covers for seniors

There are differences between what Medicare and Medicaid cover. While Medicare does provide basic coverage for things like hospitalizations and doctor visits, there are gaps in that coverage. Medicaid can step in to provide broader access to medical care and support services to seniors.

Though Medicaid is administered by each individual state, there are general federal guidelines each state program must follow. Each state must cover mandatory services that benefit all ages, but here we’ll focus on the ones that support seniors, including:

• Home health services
• Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
• Lab and X-ray services
• Long-term treatment facility stays, like in a nursing home
• Medication-assisted treatment
• Physician services
• Rural health clinic services
• Transportation to medical care

In Minnesota, Medicaid is called Medical Assistance, and it provides everything listed above, plus the following (among others) that may be important to seniors:

• Dental services
• Doctor and clinic visits
• Emergency room (ER) care
• Hearing aids
• Home care
• Hospice care
• Immunizations and vaccines
• Interpreter services
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Medical transportation, both emergency and non-emergency
• Mental and behavioral health services
• Nursing home care
• Optical care
• Outpatient surgery
• Rehabilitative therapy
• Some prescription medicine coverage
• Telemedicine services
• Urgent care

Does Medicaid cover all medical expenses?

While Medicaid doesn’t cover everything, it can help bridge the gap between what Medicare does and doesn’t cover, including helping pay for Medicare premiums, copays, coinsurance, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses.

What Medicaid does not cover for seniors

What’s not covered under Medicaid varies by state, but common things that aren’t usually covered include:

• Dental services that are considered cosmetic or not medically necessary
• Elective surgical procedures
• Over-the-counter (non-prescription) medicines
• Non-medical transportation
• Supplements, vitamins and herbal remedies

How seniors can apply for Medicaid

To begin the application process, head over to the official Medicaid website. They have a designated search tool that will help you connect with your state’s Medicaid agency. Depending on where you live, you maybe be able to apply online or by phone or mail.

What is the process of applying for Medicaid for elderly parents?

As a caregiver, you may need to help a senior apply for Medicaid. In some cases, you can know before applying that they’ll qualify. For example, if they’re already receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), they’ll automatically qualify.

In other situations, it may help to speak to an expert, like an elder law attorney or a Medicaid planning professional. As Medicaid eligibility varies by state, so do the documents needed to apply. An expert can help you get documents in order and help you understand the income and asset requirements of your state.

Where seniors can get help applying for Medicaid

If you’re trying to get started but find the Medicaid application process overwhelming, don’t worry – you have options. While you can always reach out to your state’s Medicaid agency to see what assistance programs they have in place, sometimes it’s easier to start locally.

First, head over to your county website and see if they offer any free senior resources. Often, your county will point you to an Area Agency on Aging (AAA). These are regional non-profits that help people over 65 stay independent. AAAs offer many services, including helping seniors navigate insurance options and apply for Medicaid.

Another tool you can use is The Eldercare Locator. This free public service is offered nationwide by the U.S. Administration for Community Living. By sharing your city or zip code, you can get help connecting to local support resources.

For seniors in Minnesota, you can contact Minnesota Aging Pathways (formerly the Senior LinkAge Line). This no-cost service connects seniors with the support they need, and this includes navigating Medical Assistance enrollment. To get started, you can call 800-333-2433.

Who is eligible for Medicaid as a senior?

In most cases, you need to wait until age 65 to sign up for Medicare. There isn’t an age requirement for Medicaid, so you can look at your individual situation to figure out if you qualify for Medicaid.

Because Medicaid is funded by both the federal government and individual states, your eligibility largely depends on the state you live in. But no matter where you live, there are three conditions you must meet before you apply:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
• You must live in the state you apply in
• Your income must be at or below the federal poverty level

After that, eligibility is based on:

• Age – You’re considered a senior at age 65
• Income level – Social Security Income, pensions and retirement plans, investment income, earned income (if you continue working past 65), and other sources like public assistance programs and veterans benefits all count as income for seniors and Medicaid

From there, eligibility varies by state, but here are the ways seniors may be considered eligible:

Once you’ve determined you’re eligible, you’ll need information and documents to prove it to your state’s Medicaid agency. This can include:

• Your full name and date of birth
• Your social security number
• How much you pay each month for rent or mortgage, or utilities
• Proof of citizenship or immigration status
• Proof of income, like a W-2 or paystub
• Verification of other government benefits you may receive
• Information about insurance plans you’ve had or currently have

Can you still get Medicare at 65 if you’re already on Medicaid?

When you turn 65, you don’t need to choose between Medicaid and Medicare if you qualify for both. You may be able to enroll in a Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP). These plans are offered through private health care companies, and they coordinate your Medicare and Medicaid benefits through a single health plan.

D-SNPs may also lower your health care costs, provide support navigating your care and benefits and offer additional benefits beyond Original Medicare.

A dual eligibility plan for seniors in Minnesota

In Minnesota, there’s a D-SNP especially for seniors called Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO). MSHO combines Medical Assistance (Medicaid) with Medicare, putting your care and coverage all in one place. These plans offer comprehensive care and many additional benefits, like dental or vision.

To find out if you’re eligible for an MSHO plan, you can get information from:

• Your County Human Services office
• The Minnesota Department of Human Services website or 800-657-3739
• Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). The SHIP in Minnesota is called Minnesota Aging Pathways, and it offers free, independent health plan consulting at 800-333-2433, TTY 711, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
• The sales team at an insurance company that offers MSHO plans