MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled

The MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind and Disabled program provides medical care for persons who are aged, or permanently and totally disabled, or who are blind. Each person participating in the MO HealthNet program is issued a "MO HealthNet Identification Card" or a letter from the local FSD office, identifying the person as eligible for certain medical care services. (See Medical Services-MO HealthNet). There is no cash benefit.

Who Is Eligible?

Any person who:

• is permanently and totally disabled, or is 65 years of age or older, or is 18 years of age or older and is determined by law to be blind (vision less than 5/200); 
• has net income less than $737 per month for an individual, or $992 for a couple. (If monthly income exceeds this amount, the participant may become eligible when their incurred medical expenses reduce their monthly income below this limit. For more information, see the section below labeled Spenddown Coverage.) 
• who lives in Missouri and intends to remain; 
• who is a United States citizen or an eligible qualified non-citizen;
• if aged or disabled and if single, owns cash, securities or other total non-exempt resources with a value of less than $1,000, or if married and living with spouse, individually or together, $2,000 or less (Note: Exempt resources include the home in which the participant or participant's spouse or dependents live, one automobile, household goods and certain other property. If a disabled child under age 18 is living with his parents, the non-exempt resources of the parents will be included); 
• if blind and single, does not own personal property worth more than $2,000 or, if married and living with spouse, does not own property worth more than $4,000 individually or together,. The following is not considered; the home in which the blind person lives, clothes, furniture, household equipment, personal jewelry, or any other property used directly by the blind person in earning a living.); 
• if blind, does not have a sighted spouse who can provide support 
• if blind, does not publicly solicit alms; and 
• is not a resident of a public, private, or endowed institution except a public medical institution. 

Spenddown Coverage

Spenddown refers to the amount of medical expenses that are a person's financial responsibility, similar to an insurance deductible. The spenddown amount is the amount by which an individual's or couple's net income exceeds the non-spenddown income limit.  A person's spenddown obligation can be met by either: 1) submitting incurred medical expenses to their eligibility specialist on a monthly basis; or 2) paying the monthly spenddown amount to the MO HealthNet Division, much like an insurance premium payment. 

If a person chooses to meet their spenddown with incurred medical expenses, medical coverage for that month begins the date on which the spenddown is met and ends on the last day of that month. MO HealthNet will not pay expenses used to meet the spenddown. 

If a person chooses to pay the monthly spenddown, pay-in prior to the first day of the month payment is due will ensure continuous coverage. Pay-in can be by check, money order, or automatic withdrawal from a bank account.

Many MO HealthNet participants may also be eligible for Qualified Medicare Beneficiary or Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary benefits.

• MO HealthNet Application Form (PDF)