[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Title\/Intro\/Answer” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Intro and Answer” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
If your income is just too high for you to be eligible for Medicaid, then you may want to look at Spend Down and other similar programs which are offered in some states in the US.<\/p>\n
If you spend your excess income (the amount over the eligibility limit) on “non-covered” medical expenses, you could then qualify for Medicaid.<\/p>\n
If you have applied for Medicaid and have been denied full coverage under their program, you will be informed if you qualify for a Spend Down, and you will also be told how much you will need to spend on medical expenses to qualify for Medicaid.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Contents Overview & Quicklinks” open=”on” open_toggle_text_color=”#005bdb” icon_color=”#005bdb” open_icon_color=”#005bdb” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_color=”#005bdb” body_ul_font=”||||||||” body_ul_text_color=”#59bdd6″ background_color=”rgba(190,229,247,0.47)” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_color_all=”#3648ed” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
Who can get Spend Down ?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Income Spend Down<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n A working example<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n What types of medical expenses qualify for an Income Spend Down ?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Other names for the Spend Down Program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Free help with understanding Spend Down ?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text module_id=”spendget” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n Only the following groups can get a “spend down” –<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”spendincome” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Spend Down” has two types of program\u00a0 –<\/p>\n “Income Spend Down” is the type of program I am briefly looking at here, and is the one I have been referring to so far.<\/p>\n If you have assets which are too valuable, or your combined assets and income are too high, you need to look into “Asset Spend Down”<\/strong>, which is present in all states.<\/p>\n The period over which the income is looked at, for Income Spend Down, can be from 1 month to 6 months.<\/p>\n If you live in a state in which the period is 1 month, you are going to have to “spend down” to the Medicaid eligibility limit on a monthly basis in order to qualify for Medicaid each separate month.<\/p>\n As you can imagine it can get a little complicated, and particularly if you don’t have enough “non-covered” medical expenses in any one month to “spend down”, as you won’t qualify for medicaid that month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text module_id=”spendexample” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Mary did not qualify for Medicaid as her monthly income was 75$ above the limit of Medicaid eligibility.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1\/<\/p>\n If Mary has “non-covered” medical expenses of 75$ which she pays, this is her “spend down”, and Medicaid will cover any other qualifying medical bills.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2\/<\/p>\n If Mary has 120$ of”non-covered” medical expenses, she will only pay the 75$, and Medicaid will cover the remaining 45$ (so long the bills are from a Medicaid approved provider) – Mary pays her 75$ “spend down”, bringing her down to the Medicaid eligibility limit and the Medicaid coverage kicks in for the remainder.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Of course, this only works for the types of medical expenses that Medicaid will cover.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”spendtypes” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Typically, although it may vary by state, the following types of bills can count towards a “spend down” –<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *** Do note<\/strong> that where the medical expense bills which are counting towards your “spend down” do not have to be from a Medicaid approved provider, once you have qualified for Medicaid, it will only cover your bills from Medicaid approved providers.<\/strong><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text module_id=”spendother” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “Spend Down” programs across different states have a few different names, and may also be called “Surplus Income Program”, “Share of Cost Program”, “Excess Income Program” <\/strong>and “Medically Needy Program”.<\/strong> <\/p>\n You can get free help and guidance on Medicaid (although not legal advice) from your SHIP (State Health Insurance Program).<\/strong><\/p>\n SHIP offers free counseling over the phone, on matters concerning Medicaid, Medicare and Medigap.<\/p>\n I have a brief article which tells you how to find your SHIP and their contact information. You can find that<\/strong> here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Although it is not free, you may find that you need more help, and a\u00a0good place to start may be with a Medicaid Planner, an Elder Resource Planner, or a Life Resource Planner<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The American Council on Aging website has more information about Medicaid Planners,\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\nWho can get a Spend Down ?<\/h2>\n
\n
Income Spend Down<\/h2>\n
\n
\u00a0An example of how a “Spend Down”works –<\/h3>\n
\n
What types of medical expenses qualify for an Income Spend Down ?<\/h2>\n
\n
Other names for the Spend Down Program<\/h2>\n
\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”spendfree” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\nFree help with understanding Spend Down ?<\/h2>\n