Montana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Montana. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Medicare and health costs
Montana Medicaid in Montana
Montana Medicaid can pay health costs Medicare doesn't for people 65 and older.
You may qualify without a spend-down if your income is at or below the SSI amount ($994 a month for one person) and your savings are under $2,000. If your income is higher, you may still qualify through medically needy coverage with a spend-down.
How to apply in Montana
- In person
- At any Office of Public Assistance.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Montana
| One person | Married couple | |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (2026) | $994 a month (the SSI amount) | $1,491 a month (the SSI amount) Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (source 1) |
| Savings limit | $2,000 | $3,000 Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (source 3) |
| Spend-down if your income is over the limit | Yes: people whose income is over the SSI amount may qualify for medically needy coverage with a spend-down Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (source 1) |
|---|---|
| Medicaid for adults under 65 (expansion) | Yes: Montana expanded Medicaid to low-income adults under 65 Source: KFF (source 4) |
How Montana is different
Where Montana's rules differ from the federal rules for Medicaid for people with Medicare.
- Spend-down (medically needy) available for people over the income limit
Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (source 1)
Good to know
- People who get SSI are assumed to meet the income standard and get Medicaid without a separate income test.
Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (source 1)
Free help
Free help with this in Montana
Aging Services Bureau
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Montana
Medicaid for older adults in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- 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
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, ABD 008 Table of Standards: Categorically Needy Income (effective 01/01/2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, ABD 009 Table of Standards: Medicare Savings Program-Income (effective 04/01/2026) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, CMA 001 Table of Standards: General Resource Limits (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
- KFF, Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions. Checked Oct 28, 2026.
Was this page helpful?
Report an error on this page
Newsletter
Get an email when the rules change
Benefit figures, deadlines and rules change every year. We'll tell you what changed and what to check, about twice a month.
- Free, about twice a month
- One-click unsubscribe in every email
- We never sell or share your email