Last page edit 04/15/08

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Medical Assistance - Aged, Blind and Disabled (MA-ABD) Summary (Maryland)

Name   Medical Assistance - Aged, Blind and Disabled (MA-ABD)  [Medical Assistance Overview, Dept of Human Resources]
Non-Financial Eligibility Conditions   Disabled or
Blind or
65 or older
Income Eligibility Conditions   Income is below "medically needy income level" for household size, or "incurred" medical expenses equal the "spend down" amount by which income exceeds the income limit.
Asset Eligibility Conditions   After excluded assets (such as the home), asset limit by household size:
Individual: $2,500
Couple: $3,000
each additional person Add $100

Do these numbers change?
Benefit   Enrollment in Managed Care Organization; pays for hospital, doctors, prescriptions, etc., according to terms of the managed care plan.
Apply At   Department of Social Services.  Find your local DSS Office
Appeals

  
  • You can appeal any denial, termination, or reduction of benefits
  • Appeals must be filed in writing at the DSS office.  It is best to file it in person and to get a receipt showing that you filed the appeal.
  • Appeals must be filed within 90 days of the action, or you cannot appeal.
  • If you file within 10 days of notice that benefits are being terminated or reduced, they will continue until the decision.  If you do not appeal within 10 days, the termination or reduction will happen.
    •

    Appeal rights and hearings in the Medical Assistance Program are controlled by the regulation at . Click the title "Fair Hearing Appeals Under the Maryland State Medical Assistance Program."

    Source of the Funds   State and federal
    You Also Would Be Eligible For    
    Sources of Law

    		  

    State Regulations: In the Medical Assistance Program, the Maryland regulations are by far the most important source of law.  Rarely are the federal regulations, the state statute, and the federal statute useful in understanding the governing law.

    • Eligibility: COMAR 10.09.24.00 to 10.09.24.9999 - Covering financial and non-financial eligibility conditions. (Scroll down to 10.09.24 Medical Assistance Eligibility)

    • Coverage: The kinds of medical conditions and medical treatments that are covered by Medical Assistance is very long and very detailed.  Generally, the regulations about what is and what is not covered are in COMAR 10.09.01.00 to 10.09.74.9999

    • Appeals: COMAR 10.01.04.00 to 10.01.04.9999.  (Scroll down to "10.01.04 Fair Hearing Appeals Under the Maryland State Medical Assistance Program" and click it to open the list of regulations.

    Federal Regulations: Generally - 42 CFR Chapter IV The specific part of the federal regulations that are most likely to be of some value to Medical Assistance applicants or recipients are listed below.

    Federal Law: 42 U.S.C.  §1396a – 1396v

    State Law: Md. Ann Code Health General §15-101 to §15-135 

    State Policy Materials

    Other   The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has a very thorough page on its web site listing all of the separate, different programs inside the Medical Assistance Program.  Who is eligible and what medical services are covered vary from one area to another.  It is a long page, and you will have to scroll down to see all of the different kinds of services. The information above is specifically about the part of the program that is for elderly, disabled, or blind people with low-income. The Medical Assistance Question and Answer Page on their website may answer many questions.

    Medically Needy Monthly Income Level - Eligibility limit by household size

    1 $350
    2 $392
    3 $434
    4 $475
    5 $521
    6 $573
    7 $645
    8 $709

    Do these numbers change?
    Source: Maryland Legal Assistant Network (MLAN), updated by the Maryland State Law Library (MSLL).

    Last date of legal review April 2008 (PLL/M.A.J.)
     
    Is this legal advice? This site offers legal information, not legal advice.  We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information and to clearly explain your options.  However we do not provide legal advice - the application of the law to your individual circumstances. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.  See our section on Finding Legal Help.

    About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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