Medicaid eligibility requirements in Kansas aim to provide those who are in financial and medical need with health care assistance. When seeking to apply for medical assistance, applicants tend to ask, “What are the requirements for Medicaid?” in order to gain a better understanding of the components of the Kansas Medicaid eligibility process. Another important question applicants ask is, “What are the income requirements for Medicaid in KS?” because the Medicaid program, also known as KanCare, was specifically for households who are low-income, and anyone who is above a certain income level will not qualify for assistance. Once applicants understand how to qualify for Medicaid, then they can begin to prepare all of the necessary information for their application. To gain more information on the requirements for Medicaid, continue reading the sections below.
Who qualifies for Medicaid in Kansas?
Medicaid eligibility requirements in KS begin with basic criteria all applicants must meet in order to gain access to medical assistance through Medicaid. This set of criteria also helps the state verify an applicant’s identity and financial status, so as to prevent fraud. The Medicaid requirements for all petitioners are as follows:
- Applicants must be citizens of the United States or legal non-citizens.
- Applicants must be classified as low-income and fall within the accepted range of the federal poverty level.
- Applicants must be residents of Kansas.
Aside from these standard Kansas Medicaid eligibility requirements, applicants have to fall within a specific group of people to be eligible for Medicaid benefits. Children who are eligible for Medicaid must be younger than 19 years of age, and their income limit is determined by the household in which they live and any supplemental income they receive, such as child support. The parents and caregivers of these children may also meet KS Medicaid eligibility requirements if they can prove they have legal guardianship of the child.
A pregnant woman who is eligible for Medicaid in Kansas should be aware that in determining whether or not she meets the Medicaid income limit, the unborn child is included in considering the size of the household. The final group of people who qualify for Medicaid in KS are senior citizens and those who qualify as disabled per the Social Security Administration’s standards. Senior citizens are defined as anyone older than 65 years of age. You can download our free guide to learn more about the requirements for Medicaid.
Those who do not meet the above criteria for Kansas Medicaid benefits eligibility, namely single adults between the ages of 19 and 65 who are not pregnant or disabled, are not eligible to receive Medicaid benefits. After the Affordable Care Act passed its Medicaid Expansion plan in 2012, Kansas elected not to expand its Medicaid program, as to concentrate its funds on those who were considered in high need of medical assistance.
Note: Children who are ineligible for Medicaid may qualify for Healthwave1, which is the Children’s Health Insurance Program for Kansas. Senior citizens who are seeking Social Security disability coverage may qualify for MediKan.
What are the income requirements for Medicaid in Kansas?
The income requirements for Medicaid in Kansas restrict only those who are classified as low-income to receiving Medicaid benefits. In order to qualify for Medicaid, applicants must fall below a specified percentage the federal poverty level (FPL). Additionally, to qualify for Medicaid, different programs, including Healthwave1 and Medikan, will have different income levels that applicants must meet to receive medical assistance. Petitioners should be aware that the income levels required for acceptance into the program varies according to the size of the applicant’s household. For example, a household with seven members has a higher income limit to qualify for Medicaid in KS than a household with three members, including infants and unborn children.
What are the Medicaid application guidelines in Kansas?
The Medicaid application guidelines in Kansas adhere to the Medicaid restrictions each applicant must meet in order to qualify. This means petitioners need to be able to prove they meet the Medicaid eligibility requirements in order to satisfy the application’s protocol. Medicaid benefits eligibility can be validated through additional documents, such as a copy of pay stubs or income tax return forms. In addition to providing confirmation that a petitioner meets the standard requirements for Medicaid, there are many more steps to submitting a successful application. For more insight into Medicaid’s application process, download our free guide today.
What are Medicaid disqualifications in Kansas?
If an applicant does not meet the Medicaid eligibility requirements, then he or she will be disqualified from the program. Usually, a Medicaid applicant is denied from receiving medical assistance if he or she has a gross income above the required income limit. This is why it is important for petitioners to determine if their gross monthly income meets the Medicaid eligibility requirements before beginning the Medicaid application process. Furthermore, many applicants are disqualified from the KS Medicaid program because they cannot provide identity verification information such as a Social Security Number or supporting documents like a utility bill that proves the applicant is a resident of the state.