Georgia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Georgia. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
Georgia Medicaid in Georgia
Georgia Medicaid covers adults 65 and older with low income and savings and can pay health costs Medicare doesn't.
The income limit for older adults is the SSI amount, but if your income is higher you may still qualify through Medically Needy once your medical bills are counted. Nursing-home care and help at home through the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) have a higher income limit.
How to apply in Georgia
- By phone
- 1-877-423-4746
- In person
- At your county DFCS office.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Georgia
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (2026) | $994 a month (the SSI payment amount) | $1,491 a month (the SSI payment amount) |
| Savings limit (2026) | $2,000 | $3,000 ($4,000 for a couple on Medically Needy) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | Yes: through Medically Needy (aged, blind, disabled) you may qualify if medical bills bring your income down to $317 a month for one person or $375 for a couple (2026) |
|---|---|
| Income limit for nursing-home or home-care Medicaid (2026) | $2,982 a month for one person, for nursing homes, the Community Care Services Program (CCSP) and hospice; savings limit $2,000 |
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | No full expansion. Georgia Pathways to Coverage covers some adults 19 to 64 who don't qualify for regular Medicaid and complete at least 80 hours a month of work or other qualifying activities. Source: State of Georgia (source 3) |
How Georgia is different
Where Georgia's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- Spend-down (Medically Needy) available for people over the income limit
- Help at home through the Community Care Services Program (CCSP), with the same income limit as nursing-home care
Free help
Free help with this in Georgia
Division of Aging Services
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Georgia
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Sources
- Georgia Department of Community Health, 2026 Financial Limits – All Programs (revised 3/5/2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Georgia Division of Family and Children Services, How Do I Apply for Medicaid? (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- State of Georgia, Georgia Pathways to Coverage: FAQs (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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