Medicare Blog

what does it mean to be dual eligible medicare?

by Prof. Wiley Kuvalis Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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These people are known as “dual eligible” because they are eligible for both Medicaid

Medicaid

Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and personal care services. The Health Insurance As…

and Medicare health care coverage at the same time. Once you are enrolled as a dual eligible, Medicaid funds the cost of maintaining Part A and Part B coverage. Medicare and Medicaid enrollment has been steadily increasing over the past two decades.

Full Answer

What is Medicare dual eligible and how do I qualify?

What type of coverage do you get if you are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid?

  • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program. This program helps pay for Medicare Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
  • Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program. The SLMB program helps pay for Medicare Part B premiums.
  • Qualifying Individual (QI) Program. ...
  • Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) Program. ...

How to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid as dual eligibility?

You may be eligible to qualify for a dual eligible plan if:

  • You qualify for Medicaid in your state
  • You qualify for Medicare Parts A and B (Original Medicare)
  • You live in the dual-eligible plan’s coverage area

How do you become dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid?

  • Estate Recovery
  • MAGI Conversion Plan
  • Seniors & Medicare and Medicaid Enrollees
  • Verification Plans
  • Minimum Essential Coverage
  • Spousal Impoverishment
  • Medicaid Third Party Liability & Coordination of Benefits
  • Medicaid Eligibility Quality Control Program

What is full benefit dual eligible?

dual-eligible beneficiaries: People who are jointly enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid and who are eligible to receive benefits from both programs. All dual-eligible beneficiaries qualify for full Medicare benefits, which cover their acute and postacute care.

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What does it mean if a Medicare patient is dual eligible?

Dually eligible beneficiaries are people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid who are eligible by virtue of their age or disability and low incomes.

Can I have dual coverage with Medicare?

If you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, you are considered "dual eligible." Sometimes the two programs can work together to cover most of your health care costs. Individuals who are dual eligible can often qualify for special kinds of Medicare plans.

What are dual benefits?

You can have both Medicare and Medicaid at the same time If so, they could be “dual eligible.” That's where dual special needs plans — or “dual” plans — come in. Dual plans work together with the individual's Medicaid plan. Dual health plans cover eligible doctor visits, hospital stays and prescription drugs.

What is a dual coverage?

If you are covered under two different dental insurance plans, then you have dual dental coverage. Dual dental coverage typically occurs when you have two jobs that each provide dental benefits, or you are covered by your spouse's dental plan in addition to your own.

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).

What is the best supplemental insurance for Medicare?

Best Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies of 2022Best Overall: Mutual of Omaha.Best User Experience: Humana.Best Set Plans and Coverage: AARP.Best Medigap Coverage Information: Aetna.Best Discounts for Multiple Policyholders: Cigna.

What is the highest income to qualify for Medicaid?

Federal Poverty Level thresholds to qualify for Medicaid The Federal Poverty Level is determined by the size of a family for the lower 48 states and the District of Columbia. For example, in 2022 it is $13,590 for a single adult person, $27,750 for a family of four and $46,630 for a family of eight.

What plan provides both Medicare and Medicaid coverage?

UnitedHealthcare Connected® for One Care (Medicare-Medicaid Plan) is a health plan that contracts with both Medicare and MassHealth (Medicaid) to provide benefits of both programs to enrollees.

Can you have Medicare and Medicaid at the same time?

Yes. A person can be eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare and receive benefits from both programs at the same time.

How does two health insurances work?

If you have multiple health insurance policies, you'll have to pay any applicable premiums and deductibles for both plans. Your secondary insurance won't pay toward your primary's deductible. You may also owe other cost sharing or out-of-pocket costs, such as copayments or coinsurance.

How do you determine which insurance is primary and which is secondary?

The "primary payer" pays what it owes on your bills first, and then sends the rest to the "secondary payer" to pay. The insurance that pays first is called the primary payer. The primary payer pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second is called the secondary payer.

What is a partial dual eligible?

“Partial dual eligible” is a term used to describe Medicare beneficiaries who receive financial assistance for certain Medicare costs from their state Medicaid program. These individuals don't qualify for full Medicaid benefits from their state, like long-term services and supports or behavioral health services.

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 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 ...

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 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 cover out-of-pocket expenses?

Persons who are enrolled in both Medicaid and Medicare may receive greater healthcare coverage and have lower out-of-pocket costs. For Medicare covered expenses, such as medical and hospitalization, Medicare is always the first payer (primary payer). If Medicare does not cover the full cost, Medicaid (the secondary payer) will cover the remaining cost, given they are Medicaid covered expenses. Medicaid does cover some expenses that Medicare does not, such as personal care assistance in the home and community and long-term skilled nursing home care (Medicare limits nursing home care to 100 days). The one exception, as mentioned above, is that some Medicare Advantage plans cover the cost of some long term care services and supports. Medicaid, via Medicare Savings Programs, also helps to cover the costs of Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-payments.

How many people are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid in 2020?

Millions of Americans are eligible for both programs, 12 million according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as of February 2020. These beneficiaries are referred to as dual-eligible.

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

Medicare eligibility is the same regardless of where you live. It is set by the federal government. To be eligible for Medicare, you need to be 65 years or older or have a qualifying disability. In addition, you must also meet U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency requirements .

What is Medicaid for low income?

Medicaid is intended to offer health care to individuals with low income across various categories: children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

How long does Part A pay for nursing home?

After qualifying hospital stays in 2020, your Part A benefits will pay for all nursing home expenses up to 20 days. For days 21 to 100, you will pay a copayment of $176 per day, and for nursing home stays longer than that, you will pay the full amount. 3 .

Does Medicare pay for Part A premiums?

Medicare Savings Program, if you are fortunate to qualify for one, can help to cover additional costs. For those who qualify for the QMB program, Medicaid will pay your Medicare costs, including Part A premiums, Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

Does Medicare cover prescription drugs?

Medicaid requires that you sign up for prescription drug coverage through Medicare, whether that be with a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug benefits, also known as an MA-PD plan. If you partake in the Extra Help program, a low-income subsidy for prescription drug benefits, however, you must enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Part D, not a Medicare Advantage plan. It may be the case that some medications not covered by your Medicare plan will be covered by Medicaid.

Does Medicare pay for health care?

Paying for Your Health Care. Generally speaking, Medicare pays first and Medicaid pays second. What costs Medicare leaves on the table can oftentimes be taken care of by Medicaid. The amount paid by Medicaid, however, has a limit that is set by each state.

What Does Dual-Eligible Mean?

As you might have guessed, dual-eligibility is a status of being eligible for two things – and in the case of Medicare and healthcare insurance, this means benefitting from both Medicare and Medicaid.

How Does Dual-Eligibility Work?

If you hit the eligibility criteria for Medicare, and also have a household income that is low enough to render you eligible for Medicaid additional support, then you are what we call dual-eligible.

Do I Have A Say In How My Dual-Eligibility Works?

Those who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid do have a few options regarding how their care and support is delivered; largely depending on which kind of Medicare package they have decided to sign up for.

What is dual eligibility?

You’re also considered a dual eligible beneficiary if you’re enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B and receiving cost-sharing through a Medicare savings program (MSP). Below is table summarizing the benefits and eligibility criteria for each of the different MSPs in 2021: MSP. Benefits.

What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?

Takeaway. Medicare is the federal health insurance program in the United States for people age 65 and older. Medicaid is a joint federal and state program to help people with limited resources or income pay for medical costs.

How many people are on Medicare and Medicaid?

According to Health Affairs, about 9.2 million people, representing about 16 percent of Medicare enrollees and about 15 percent of Medicaid enrollees, are enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. Keep reading to learn more about dual eligibility, benefits, and state-by-state differences.

What is fee for service Medicaid?

fee-for-service Medicaid coverage. plans that include all Medicare and Medicaid benefits. Income and resource standards are defined by federal law for full Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Programs. At their discretion, states can effectively raise the federally mandated limits.

Is Medicare a dual beneficiary?

If you’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, you’re considered a dual eligible beneficiary. Dual eligibility is typically determined by your age, any disabilities, and income.

Is Medicare free for older people?

It also covers people with certain disabilities and health conditions. Medicare is not free coverage — you’ll still pay deductibles, premiums, and copays for medical services.

Is dual eligibility covered by insurance?

If you’re a dual eligibility beneficiary, it’s likely that most of your healthcare costs are covered. The information on this website may assist you in making personal decisions about insurance, but it is not intended to provide advice regarding the purchase or use of any insurance or insurance products.

What Is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for older people (65 and over), younger people with disabilities, and individuals who have ESRD (End-Stage Renal Disease).

What Is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a federal government and state health care program for low-income individuals of any age in the U.S. This health insurance offers affordable health care options to people who can't afford to pay for medical items, services, and treatments.

What Is Dual Eligibility?

There are a variety of reasons why people may struggle to cover the costs of Medicare insurance.

Who Can Apply for Dual Eligibility?

To qualify for dual eligibility, you need to meet the enrollment criteria for both the Medicare and Medicaid program.

Part A and B Financial Help

Once you're dual eligible, you’ll be able to use your Medicaid to pay some or all of your Original Medicare premiums and health care costs.

Dual-Eligible Benefit Types

There are six types of dual-eligible beneficiaries. Each one has its own financial requirements to enroll and offers other relief from Medicare health care costs.

Dual Eligible and Medicare Advantage

Certain dual eligibles are still allowed to enroll for Medicare Advantage plans. These are called Special Needs Plans (SNPs) and are designed to cater to dual eligibles and other specific groups.

Dual Eligibles Are At-Risk by Nature of Their Medicare Eligibility

Dual eligible beneficiaries are the most vulnerable in our community. There are two subsets to this population: the low-income elderly and low-income persons with disabilities.

Dual Eligibles See Social Determinants of Health

A person’s environment significantly influences their health outcomes. Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, and play affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. These key factors are trending in the healthcare industry as Social Determinants of Health.

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Programs

Results

  • Millions of Americans are eligible for both programs, 8.3 million according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. These beneficiaries are referred to as dual eligible. Understanding how the programs work together will help you make the most of your healthcare experience.
See more on verywellhealth.com

Qualification

  • Medicare eligibility is the same regardless of where you live. It is set by the federal government. To be eligible for Medicare, you need to be 65 years or older or have a qualifying disability. In addition, you must also meet U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residency requirements.
See more on verywellhealth.com

Purpose

  • Medicaid is intended to offer health care to individuals with low income across various categories: children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, adults without children could also be covered if their state accepted the terms of Medicaid Expansion.
See more on verywellhealth.com

Benefits

  • It could be the case that you are eligible for Medicaid benefits based on your income and assets. Another way to meet criteria for Medicaid is to qualify for benefits from one of the Medicare Savings Programs offered through your local Medicaid office. If you are eligible for Medicare and meet criteria for Medicaid or one the following four programs, you may be dual eligible.
See more on verywellhealth.com

Access

  • Medicaid requires that you sign up for prescription drug coverage through Medicare, whether that be with a Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug benefits, also known as an MA-PD plan. If you partake in the Extra Help program, a low-income subsidy for prescription drug benefits, however, you must enroll in Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Part D, not a Me…
See more on verywellhealth.com

Cost

  • Although Medicare does pay for stays in skilled nursing facilities after a hospitalization, it does not contribute to long-term nursing care. After qualifying hospital stays in 2018, your Part A benefits will pay for all nursing home expenses up to 20 days. For days 21 to 100, you will pay a copayment of $167.50 per day, and for nursing home stays longer than that, you will pay the full …
See more on verywellhealth.com

Services

  • Medicare is not an all-inclusive program. Dental, hearing, and vision screening are not offered nor are dentures, hearing aids, or corrective lenses (contact lenses or eyeglasses) among other healthcare services. If your state Medicaid program offers these services, you may benefit from the added coverage.
See more on verywellhealth.com

Prevention

  • Don't assume that because you are on Medicare that you don't qualify for Medicaid. In fact, for millions of seniors, the exact opposite is true. If you are struggling to make ends meet in your retirement years, look to see if you are eligible for Medicaid. This may be the most reasonable way to cut your healthcare costs.
See more on verywellhealth.com

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