Medicare Blog

alaska medicaid when you have medicare

by Amani Kassulke Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Application for Medicaid is made through the State of Alaska, Division of Public Assistance. If you are on Medicaid/Denali Care and then turn 65 and are on Medicare OR have been on Social Security Disability and are on MEDICARE due to disability, the State of Alaska assists with the costs of premiums, deductibles and co-insurance.*

If you are on Medicaid/Denali Care and then turn 65 and are on Medicare OR have been on Social Security Disability and are on MEDICARE due to disability, the State of Alaska assists with the costs of premiums, deductibles and co-insurance. * You will have both and they work together.

Full Answer

Did you get a new Medicare card in Alaska this year?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mailed out new Medicare cards to Alaska beneficiaries April-June 2018. The new cards don’t show Social Security numbers to help prevent identity theft. Haven’t gotten your card yet? Check with Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. Click here to make sure your address is correct.

Who is eligible for Medicaid in Alaska?

Medicaid is a wide-ranging, jointly funded state and federal health care program for low-income individuals of all ages. While there are several different eligibility groups, the focus of this page is strictly on Medicaid eligibility for elderly Alaska residents, aged 65 and over.

What is the Alaska Medicaid program called?

In Alaska, the Medicaid program is also called DenaliCare. The agency that administers it is the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Assistance. Medicaid is a wide-ranging, jointly funded state and federal health care program for low-income individuals of all ages.

Is denalicare the same as Medicaid in Alaska?

Note: DenaliCare and Denali KidCare are the same as Medicaid in the State of Alaska. Denali KidCare is for youth under the age of 19. There is a special enrollment period (SEP) for people to apply and enroll in the private health insurance coverage from February 15 through August 15, 2021. Visit HealthCare.gov to apply.

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When can a patient have both Medicare and Medicaid?

Some Americans qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, and when this happens, it usually means they don't have any out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Beneficiaries with Medicare and Medicaid are known as dual eligibles – and account for about 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries (about 12.3 million people).

What is the income limit for Medicaid in Alaska?

Benefits.gov. View coronavirus (COVID-19) resources on Benefits.gov. Visit Coronavirus.gov for live updates....Who is eligible for Alaska Medicaid?Household Size*Maximum Income Level (Per Year)1$22,5972$30,4443$38,2914$46,1384 more rows

Do Medicaid and Medicare cover the same things?

Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. pays second. Medicaid never pays first for services covered by Medicare. It only pays after Medicare, employer group health plans, and/or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Insurance have paid.

Does Medicare cover Alaska?

Medicare, the United States federal medical insurance program, provides coverage for about 100,000 people in Alaska who qualify for Medicare. You can get Medicare if you're 65 or older or have a qualifying disability.

Do I qualify for Medicaid?

Medicaid beneficiaries generally must be residents of the state in which they are receiving Medicaid. They must be either citizens of the United States or certain qualified non-citizens, such as lawful permanent residents. In addition, some eligibility groups are limited by age, or by pregnancy or parenting status.

How long does Medicaid last in Alaska?

5 yearAlaska has a 60-month (5 year) Medicaid Look-Back Period that immediately precedes the date on one's Medicaid application.

How do I qualify for dual Medicare and Medicaid?

Persons who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid are called “dual eligibles”, or sometimes, Medicare-Medicaid enrollees. To be considered dually eligible, persons must be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance), and / or Medicare Part B (medical insurance).

When a patient is covered through Medicare and Medicaid which coverage is primary?

Medicaid can provide secondary insurance: For services covered by Medicare and Medicaid (such as doctors' visits, hospital care, home care, and skilled nursing facility care), Medicare is the primary payer. Medicaid is the payer of last resort, meaning it always pays last.

What are the disadvantages of Medicaid?

Disadvantages of Medicaid They will have a decreased financial ability to opt for elective treatments, and they may not be able to pay for top brand drugs or other medical aids. Another financial concern is that medical practices cannot charge a fee when Medicaid patients miss appointments.

Can you use Medicare out of state?

Can You Use Your Medicare Benefits in Another State? If you have original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) you are covered anywhere in the United States. You must, however, use hospitals and doctors that accept Medicare.

How do I get Medicare in Alaska?

You can sign up for Original Medicare in Alaska by contacting the Social Security Administration, either by phone or online. The Initial Medicare Enrollment Period (IEP) takes place from three months before you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and lasts for the three months following.

Do you lose Medicare if you move out of the country?

Remember, you can have Medicare while you live abroad, but it will usually not cover the care you receive. Most people qualify for premium-free Part A, meaning you will pay nothing for coverage. If you must pay a premium for Part A, be aware of the high monthly cost for maintaining Part A coverage.

Who is eligible for Alaska Medicaid?

Older age and Disability related Medicaid for: Seniors age 65 and older. People with blindness or other disabilities. Long Term Care.

What is considered low income in Alaska?

A family's annual income must include all sources of income for ALL family/household members....Resident Low Income Licenses.2021 Poverty Guidelines for AlaskaPersons in Family/HouseholdFamily Gross Annual Income1$15,9502$21,5503$27,1506 more rows

Is Denali care the same as Medicaid?

DENALI KID CARE is a form of Medicaid for children and pregnant women. It is insurance for children under 19 years old and is easier to qualify for than family Medicaid. When a pregnant woman is on Denali KidCare, her newborn child will automatically be covered for a year from the time of birth.

What is MAGI Medicaid Alaska?

FAQs about American Indian and Alaska Native Trust Income and MAGI. Q: What is Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)? A: MAGI is your adjusted gross income, as determined for federal income tax purposes, with certain types of income added in and subtracted out.

What is CSRA in Medicaid?

This, in Medicaid speak, is known as the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). Like the MMMNA, this rule is in place to prevent spousal impoverishment of non-applicant spouses, and is only extended to couples with one spouse applying for institutional Medicaid or a HCBS Medicaid Waiver.

What is HCBS in nursing home?

Benefits are provided only in nursing home facilities. 2) Medicaid Waivers / Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) – Waivers limit the number of program participants, which means wait lists may exist.

What is the exemption for Medicaid?

Exemptions include personal belongings, such as clothing and jewelry, household goods / furnishings, an automobile, a burial plot, and one’s primary home, given the Medicaid applicant lives in it, or has “intent” to return to it, and his / her home equity interest is no greater than $603,000 (in 2021).

What is Medicaid in Alaska?

In Alaska, the Medicaid program is also called DenaliCare. The agency that administers it is the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services’ Division of Public Assistance. Medicaid is a wide-ranging, jointly funded state and federal health care program for low-income individuals of all ages. While there are several different eligibility ...

What is PCS in Alaska?

1) Personal Care Services (PCS) Program – Formerly named the Alaska Medicaid Personal Care Assistance (PCA) Program, this program is available under the state Medicaid plan for disabled and elderly Alaska residents. As the name implies, personal care services are provided for those who require assistance with daily living activities. Program participants are able to hire the caregiver of their choosing, including family members. Click here for additional information.

What is a Miller Trust?

1) Qualified Income Trusts (QIT’s) –Also called Miller Trusts, this is a special trust for Medicaid applicants who are over the income limit yet still cannot afford to pay for their long-term care. (For Alaska Medicaid purposes, a Miller Trust is also called an Irrevocable Income Trust.)

How long is the look back period for Medicaid in Alaska?

One should be aware that Alaska has a Medicaid Look-Back Period. This is a period of 60 months (5 years) that precedes the date on one’s Medicaid application. During the “look back”, Medicaid checks all past asset transfers to ensure no assets were sold or given away under fair market value.

What is extra help?

And, you'll automatically qualify for. Extra Help. A Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug program costs, like premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. paying for your.

Which pays first, Medicare or Medicaid?

Medicare pays first, and. Medicaid. A joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. pays second.

What is original Medicare?

Original Medicare. Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health plan that has two parts: Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). After you pay a deductible, Medicare pays its share of the Medicare-approved amount, and you pay your share (coinsurance and deductibles). or a.

Does Medicare cover prescription drugs?

. Medicaid may still cover some drugs and other care that Medicare doesn’t cover.

Does Medicare have demonstration plans?

Medicare is working with some states and health plans to offer demonstration plans for certain people who have both Medicare and Medicaid and make it easier for them to get the services they need. They’re called Medicare-Medicaid Plans. These plans include drug coverage and are only in certain states.

Does Medicare Advantage cover hospice?

Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A and Part B benefits, excluding hospice. Medicare Advantage Plans include: Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage. . If you have Medicare and full Medicaid, you'll get your Part D prescription drugs through Medicare.

Can you get medicaid if you have too much income?

Even if you have too much income to qualify, some states let you "spend down" to become eligible for Medicaid. The "spend down" process lets you subtract your medical expenses from your income to become eligible for Medicaid. In this case, you're eligible for Medicaid because you're considered "medically needy."

Key Takeaways

Medicare in Alaska is mostly like Medicare in the 48 contiguous states, with eligibility starting at age 65 outside of a few exceptions.

Does Medicare Cover You in Alaska?

Since 1965, Medicare has provided affordable healthcare coverage to older Americans, and that certainly includes Alaskans. If you enroll in Medicare in Alaska, you can use your benefits with any provider in the United States that accepts Medicare, which is most.

How do I Apply for Medicare in Alaska?

You are eligible to get Medicare in AK if you’re a U.S. citizen age 65 or older. Regardless of your age, you can enroll in Medicare if you have End Stage Renal Disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease or have received Social Security Disability Insurance payments or Railroad Board benefits payments for 24 months.

Does Alaska Have Free Healthcare?

Medicare beneficiaries who have paid employment-related taxes for at least 10 years don’t have to pay a monthly premium for Part A of Original Medicare. However, the coverage is not “free” because of the deductibles, copays, and coinsurance responsibilities associated with Medicare plans in Alaska.

Is Medicare the Same in All 50 States?

Because Medicare is a federal insurance program, the core elements of Medicare are the same in each state, but there are some exceptions.

Medicare in Alaska by the Numbers

Thousands of older adults enroll in Medicare every day across the United States. The latest CMS data shows that 86,462 people are enrolled in Medicare in Alaska. The total number of beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage in Alaska is 1,748. The previous year, 1,596 enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Alaska Medicare Resources & Contacts

Beneficiaries spend an average of $9,985.92 each year on Medicare in Alaska. To be certain you are not leaving anything on the table, let us help. A GoHealth licensed insurance agent can assess your coverage or explain which Alaska-based resources, like these, may be able to help:

What is a Medicare Supplement?

Medicare Supplements, or Medigap plans, are different from Medicare Advantage plans. Instead of adding health benefits, Medigap plans can add financial benefits. There are several different types of Medigap plans, all of which have different costs and benefits. Benefits include coverage for costs like copayments, deductibles, etc. Use our Medicare Plan Finder tool to find out which type of Medigap plan is right for you.

Can I get Medicare Advantage in Alaska?

You can get Medicare prescription drug coverage in Alaska in two different ways. You can either enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that comes with a prescription drug benefit, or enroll in a stand-alone prescription drug plan. Keep in mind that you cannot have both a Medicare Advantage plan and a prescription drug plan at the same time, so you’ll have to choose one or the other.

Is dental insurance covered by Medicare?

Dental is not a traditionally covered benefit in the federal Medicare program. There are a few ways that you can get dental coverage. You can look for a Medicare Advantage plan that includes a dental benefit, or you can enroll in a private dental plan.

What is Medicaid estate recovery?

Each state Medicaid program is required to recover what it paid for long-term care and associated medical costs while an enrollee was 55 or older. States can also all Medicaid benefits paid on behalf of those enrollees (rather than limiting estate recovery to LTSS-related expenses). This is called estate recovery.

What is a Miller Trust?

Applicants who have income above the eligibility limit for Medicaid ABD / Refused Cash Medicaid or long-term care benefits can qualify for those programs by depositing income into a Qualified Income Trust, which is also called a “Miller Trust.”

What is ADRC in Alaska?

In Alaska, there are Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) to help seniors and people with disabilities access long-term services and supports. This is a list of regional ADRC locations.

What is an elder law attorney?

Elder law attorneys can help individuals plan for long-term care coverage. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has a search feature you can use to find an elder attorney locally.

Does Medicaid count income of spouse?

Eligibility rules for Medicaid LTSS programs differ from other Medicaid benefits when only one spouse is applying. When this occurs, only the applying spouse’s income is counted. This is an exception to how Medicaid programs normally look at income limits: Usually, the income of both spouses is counted.

Does Medicaid cover long term care?

Every state’s Medicaid program covers community-based long-term care, which is provided in an enrollee’s home, adult day care center, or another “community” setting. Programs offering this type of care are called Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waivers because recipients continue living in the community, rather than entering a nursing home.

How much does Medicare Part B cost?

For Medicare Part B (medical insurance), enrollees pay a monthly premium of $148.50 in addition to an annual deductible of $203. In order to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, one must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. The monthly premium varies by plan, but is approximately $33 / month.

What is Medicare and Medicaid?

Differentiating Medicare and Medicaid. Persons who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid are called “dual eligibles”, or sometimes, Medicare-Medicaid enrollees. Since it can be easy to confuse the two terms, Medicare and Medicaid, it is important to differentiate between them. While Medicare is a federal health insurance program ...

What is dual eligible?

Definition: Dual Eligible. To be considered dually eligible, persons must be enrolled in Medicare Part A, which is hospital insurance, and / or Medicare Part B, which is medical insurance. As an alternative to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), persons may opt for Medicare Part C, which is also known as Medicare Advantage.

What is the income limit for Medicaid in 2021?

In most cases, as of 2021, the individual income limit for institutional Medicaid (nursing home Medicaid) and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) via a Medicaid Waiver is $2,382 / month. The asset limit is generally $2,000 for a single applicant.

How old do you have to be to qualify for medicare?

Citizens or legal residents residing in the U.S. for a minimum of 5 years immediately preceding application for Medicare. Applicants must also be at least 65 years old. For persons who are disabled or have been diagnosed with end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), there is no age requirement. Eligibility for Medicare is not income based. Therefore, there are no income and asset limits.

How to apply for medicaid?

How to Apply. To apply for Medicare, contact your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office. To apply for Medicaid, contact your state’s Medicaid agency. Learn about the long-term care Medicaid application process. Prior to applying, one may wish to take a non-binding Medicaid eligibility test.

Does Medicare provide long term care?

Long-Term Care Benefits. Medicaid provides a wide variety of long-term care benefits and supports to allow persons to age at home or in their community. Medicare does not provide these benefits, but some Medicare Advantage began offering various long term home and community based services in 2019. Benefits for long term care may include ...

What is the QMB program?

There are four MSPs that help people with low income and low resources: The Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program helps people with countable income that’s 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) or less ($1,341 per month or less if you live alone).

What is LIS in Medicaid?

If you cannot afford these costs, you may qualify for the Low Income Subsidy (LIS), which is also called “Extra Help.”. The Low Income Subsidy has two levels: The full subsidy is for people who also get Medicaid coverage or who are in a Medicare Savings Program.

How to apply for MSP in Alaska?

Apply for an MSP by filling out the combined application for services and turning it in at your local Division of Public Assistance (DPA) office. If you need help with your application, call the Alaska Medicare Information Office at 1-800-478-6065 or 1-800-770-8973 (TTY).

What are the other options for Medicare?

You may have other options as well, such as retirement benefits, Veterans (VA) benefits, or military (TRICARE) benefits. Learn more about how Medicare interacts with other types of coverage.

What to do before you decline Part B?

Important: Before you decline Part B, ask your employer-sponsored coverage to see if you would have to pay monthly penalties if you sign up for Part B in the future. Before you decline Part D, ask if your private insurance is considered creditable coverage by Part D.

When do you qualify for Medicare if you work?

If you or your spouse worked enough time while paying Medicare taxes, you will qualify for Medicare: When you turn 65.

Is Medicare as good as Medicaid?

While Medicare offers good coverage, it is not as low-cost as Medicaid. Depending on the care you need, you may have to pay large copayments, co-insurance, or deductibles. And, for Part B, you may have to pay a monthly premium (usually $148.50 per month or a bit less).

How to apply for medicaid in Alaska?

You can apply for Alaska Medicaid online at either healthcare.gov or my.alaska.gov. You can also complete a paper application and then either send it in by mail, fax it to an office, or bring it to your local public assistance office.

How to get Medicaid authorization in Alaska?

Once you have authorization from Medicaid, you can call the Alaska State Travel Office at 1-800-514-7123 to schedule your trip. Always remember to bring your Medicaid ID card when you travel for health services.

How often is Denali Kidcare reviewed?

Denali KidCare is for kids through age 18 and pregnant women who meet the income guidelines. Applications will be reviewed every 12 months. You can apply for Denali Care in the same way that you would apply for Alaska Medicaid. Effective 4/19, the income requirements for Denali Care can be found here: ...

What is Alaska Medicaid?

The Alaska Medicaid Health Enterprise Portal is a place where doctors, patients, pharmacists, and other users can review their Alaska healthcare information. To be able to register, you must first be accepted to the Alaska Medicaid program, and you must have received a Medicaid ID number. You will also need your Social Security Number or tax ID number to register.

Can I qualify for Medicare based on disability?

If you qualify for Medicare based on your age or disability status (and also qualify for Alaska Medicaid), you might qualify for a Dual-Eligible Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan, or DSNP. DSNPs can provide coverage for additional services and often come at no or very little cost. You can qualify for Medicare by:

Can I get a CAMA card in Alaska?

If you don’t quite meet the Alaska Medicaid eligibility requirements, but you have little income and lack health insurance, you might qualify for CAMA. CAMA provides identification cards or “coupons” that you can give to your doctor. The “coupon” explains what services are covered. The doctor has to be enrolled with Social Services, and you will owe $1 copayments for drugs and medical supplies.

Is Alaska Medicaid based on income?

Alaska Medicaid Eligibility. Eligibility for Alaska medical assistance programs is based largely on your income level and household size. If you have low income and are unable to pay your medical bills, it may be worth applying to find out if you are eligible. Applying is the only way to know for sure.

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