[Ohio-talk] FW: Proposal to Make Medicaid Recipients Pay for Care

[Chuck Hallenbeck]

a Eligibility for Medicaid is based on need, and involves the concept
of "excess income."  Medicaid determines what it would cost to meet
one's basic needs, then determines what income and assets the applicant
already has.  If one's income exceeds what it costs one to live, the
difference is called "excess income."

If an applicant for Medicaid has "excess income" he must first spend
that much each month before Medicaid pays for the rest.  That is what
is meant by "spend-down."  One must spend down each month by the amount
of one's excess income before you get a nickle from Medicaid.

So where are Medicaid recipients supposed to get money to pay for a part
of their care?  I don't get it.  By definition any excess income they
have is already committed to the cost of their care.

Chuck