Aunt who has private plan should apply for Medicaid

My aunt is very poor.  She lives on her Social Security check, and has health insurance as part of her retirement from the mill.  She won’t apply for Medicaid because she says she already has insurance.  Would Medicaid reject her because she has a private plan?

Concerned Niece

Dear Concerned Niece,

Medicaid would not refuse her based upon her having other insurance.   Medicaid will decide whether she qualifies based upon her income and assets.  If she does qualify for Medicaid, her other insurance would pay first, and then the Medicaid plan. Medicaid plans always pay last, after any other insurance has paid.

There are many things that Medicaid pays for that her private plan does not.  Private health insurance does not pay for nursing home care, for example; Medicaid does.  So there are good reasons for her to apply for Medicaid even though she has her plan from her retirement.

Linda Riddell

About Linda Riddell

A published author and health policy analyst with 25 years’ experience, Linda Riddell's goal is to alleviate the widespread ailment of not knowing what your health plan can do for you.