In Maryland, Medicaid may be available to individuals of all ages if they meet certain financial criteria and other requirements. Residents enrolled in Medicaid are eligible to receive a variety of free and minimal-cost health care services including:
- Doctor and hospital visits
- Emergency services
- Laboratory services
- Physical therapy
- Mental health treatment
- Transportation services
- Hospice care
- Long-term care in a nursing home
Seniors who receive Medicare and Supplemental Security Income and are over 65 years old or disabled are entitled to receive Medicaid.
Because eligibility requirements can vary for residents aged 65 and older, it’s recommended that Salisbury seniors apply for Medicaid through their local Wicomico County
Department of Human Services office at (410) 713-3900. However, they can also apply
online or by printing, completing and mailing a paper application to the following address:
Wicomico County DSS
201 Baptist St., Ste 27
Salisbury, MD 21801
Seniors aged 65 and older seeking long-term care who wish to live at home or in an assisted living community rather than a nursing home may be eligible for care through a
Long-Term Services and Supports waiver.
Home and Community-Based Options Waiver Through the
Community Options waiver, Salisbury seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and eating, may qualify for the following services:
- Assisted living
- Personal assistance
- Case management and transition services
- Nutritionist and dietitian services
- Doctor and hospital visits
- Mental health care
- Prescription drugs
- Laboratory services
- Home delivered meals
- Medical equipment and assistive technology
To be eligible for waiver services, a senior must:
- Require a nursing home level of care
- Not earn more than 300% of the SSI benefit rate ($2,313 monthly)
- Not have assets exceeding $2,000 or $2,500 (depending on the eligibility category), and exempt assets include one’s home, primary vehicle and furnishings
Because this waiver is not an entitlement, eligible seniors may be placed on a waiting list. Interested seniors should call the Maryland Access Point at (844) 627-5465 to learn more.
Increased Community Services Program Similar to the Community Options waiver, the
Increased Community Services program provides health care services and assistance with activities of daily living to seniors who live in a nursing home but would like to transition back into the community. This program allows individuals whose income is too high to qualify for the Community Options waiver to enroll by paying income in excess of 300% of SSI benefits toward their care costs. Participants must also have assets below the $2,000 or $2,500 maximum limits (depending on their eligibility category).
Benefits of ICS are nearly identical to services provided through the Community Options waiver.
In addition to meeting the above financial criteria, seniors must:
- Be living in a nursing home and have lived there for at least three months with at least 30 days having been eligible for Medicaid
- Have care needs that, when served in the community, cost no more than in a nursing facility
- Not be eligible for any other Medicaid waiver
Salisbury seniors interested in this program should call the Maryland Access Point at (844) 627-5465.