We are in Georgia. Our child has high therapy and medical needs, and we make too much for regular Medicaid. Another parent said to apply for Katie Beckett / TEFRA because parent income may not count the same way.
Is that true in Georgia? What else do they look at besides income?
Top answer, from Sam K.
Read the full answerIn Georgia, yes: TEFRA / Katie Beckett is built so parent income can be ignored for kids who meet the program rules. Georgia Medicaid describes it as a pathway for certain disabled children age 18 or younger who live at home and would not ordinarily get SSI because of parental income. Income is not the whole test. Georgia still looks at whether the child: 1) Meets federal disability criteria 2)…
No account needed. One-click unsubscribe in every email.
In Georgia, yes: TEFRA / Katie Beckett is built so parent income can be ignored for kids who meet the program rules. Georgia Medicaid describes it as a pathway for certain disabled children age 18 or younger who live at home and would not ordinarily get SSI because of parental income.
Income is not the whole test. Georgia still looks at whether the child:
1) Meets federal disability criteria
2) Needs an institutional level of care (hospital, nursing facility, or intermediate care facility level), even though care can safely happen at home
3) Can be cared for at home appropriately
4) Has home-care costs that are not expected to exceed institutional care costs
So "we earn too much for regular Medicaid" is exactly why families ask about Katie Beckett, but approval still hinges on disability and level-of-care review, not income alone. Start with Georgia Medicaid's TEFRA / Katie Beckett materials and the Right from the Start / Katie Beckett team process they point you to. Ask what forms, physician certifications, and annual reviews are required before you assume private insurance is your only option.
Program details change, and level-of-care decisions are case-specific. If someone at an office gives a one-line "you will not qualify," ask them which criterion failed and get the next step in writing.
Have experience to share? Sign in with just your email. No password needed.