You should apply for Medicaid if:

• you have limited income and resources regardless of age
  
• you are aged (65 years old or older), blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources
• you are terminally ill and want to get hospice services
• you are aged, blind, or disabled; live in a nursing home; and have limited income and resources
• you are aged, blind, or disabled and need nursing home care, but can stay at home with special community care services
• you are eligible for Medicare and have limited income and resources
• you are a family with children under age 18 and have limited income and resources
• you think you are pregnant. You may be eligible if you are married or single. If you are on Medicaid when your child is born, both you and your child will be covered

Medicaid does not provide medical assistance for all people with limited incomes and resources. You must qualify for Medicaid. Low-income is only one test for Medicaid eligibility; assets and resources are also tested against established thresholds. Medically needy persons who would be categorically eligible except for income or assets may become eligible for Medicaid solely because of excessive medical expenses. This option allows them to "spend down" to Medicaid eligibility by incurring medical and/or remedial care expenses to offset their excess income, thereby reducing it to a level below the maximum allowed by that State's Medicaid plan.