By Attorney Patrick Nolan
MO HealthNet is Missouri’s version of Medicaid—a bare-bones lifeline for folks trying to make ends meet. The Department of Social Services calls the shots. It covers a deep bench: doctor visits, hospital stays, meds, nursing home bills, mental health treatment, and preventive care. Most basics, mostly covered.
But getting in the door isn’t just about what your last paystub says. It takes a look at age, family details, who’s in the household, and whether you’ve got a disability. Kids with no money, pregnant women, certain parents, those over 65, and disabled folks land in. Thanks to expansion back in 2021, adults under 65 get in if income stays under 138% of the federal poverty line.
How do you apply? Your pick: online through myDSS, in-person at Family Support, by mail, even by phone. You’ll need to send in proof—income, residency, an ID, sometimes even immigration documents. The wheels turn slow. Wait for a letter. Then it’s yes, or no.
Long-term care? MO HealthNet can foot those steep bills for nursing homes, in-home care, and some community programs. Qualifying is the kicker. Strict tests, both financial and medical. They keep a tight lid: home (up to a point), what you wear, one car—those are “exempt.” But you bump up against low asset caps fast. Some people set up irrevocable trusts, Medicaid-friendly annuities, and other legal moves to keep more safe. If they do it right. Get it wrong and the state can slam you with a penalty or turn you down flat.
One more thing—estate recovery. If you’re over 55 and use MO HealthNet long-term care, the state may grab what’s left in your probate estate after you die, to pay itself back. Planning ahead—using the right trusts, legitimate gifts, spending down within rules—those can keep assets safer and make sure you stay eligible. But Medicaid law doesn’t give warnings or second chances. Anyone navigating this—especially if you’ve got something to lose—should get advice from a Missouri attorney who stays neck-deep in this stuff. If you want a real plan and steady ground, Nolan Law Firm can help you sort it out.
