After the participant's gross income has been determined, and all exclusions, exemptions, and deductions allowed, round the remaining income down to the nearest whole dollar amount to arrive at the adjusted gross income.
To determine eligibility based on need, compare the adjusted gross income to the current income maximum. There are two types of need determinations: non-spend down and spend down.
If the adjusted gross income is equal to or less than the income maximum the case is eligible for MO HealthNet as non-spend down.
Spend down is an eligibility category of MO HealthNet for individuals whose income exceeds the current income maximum for MO HealthNet. If the adjusted gross income is greater than the non-spend down income maximum, the participants must reduce their income to the non-spend down income limit— “spend down” their excess income—to have MO HealthNet coverage. Federal law allows the participants to deduct from their income the amount of incurred medical expenses that are not subject to payment by a third party, or to pay-in to the state the amount of their adjusted gross income that exceeds the non-spend down income limit. This amount is the participants’ monthly spend down obligation.
Effective July 1, 2005, the non-spend down income maximum is 85% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for both single individuals and married couples with eligibility based on OAA and PTD criteria. 85% of the FPL is $860.00 per month for a single individual and $1,166.00 for a married couple.
Effective July 1, 2004, the non-spend down income maximum is 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for both single individuals and married couples with eligibility based on AB criteria. The change in state law that lowered the income limit for determinations based on OAA or PTD did not affect determinations based on AB. 100% of the FPL is $1,012.00 per month for a single individual and $1,372.00 for a married couple.
Before October 1, 2002, the MO HealthNet for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (MHABD) Income Limits were the current SSI Maximums for both single individuals and married couples. From October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2003, the non-spend down income maximum for an individual was 80% of the federal poverty level (FPL). During this period the couple limit was the SSI maximum as it exceeded 80% FPL. From October 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004, the non-spend down income maximum was 90% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) for both single individuals and married couples. From July 1, 2004 through June 30, 2005, the non-spend down income maximum was 100% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL) for both single individuals and married couples based with eligibility based on OAA, PTD, or AB criteria.
Refer to table below for the income maximums from January 1, 2002 through June 30, 2005.
MHABD NON-SPEND DOWN OAA/PTD/AB INCOME LIMITS
| EFFECTIVE DATE | SINGLE | COUPLE |
| 01/01/02 | $545.00 (SSI MAX) | $817.00 (SSI MAX) |
| 10/01/02 | $591.00 (80%FPL) | $817.00 (SSI MAX) |
| 01/01/03 | $591.00 (80%FPL) | $829.00 (SSI MAX) |
| 04/01/03 | $599.00 (80% FPL) | $829.00 (SSI MAX) |
| 10/01/03 | $674.00 (90% FPL | $909.00 (90% FPL) |
| 04/01/04 | $699.00 (90% FPL) | $937.00 (90% FPL) |
| 7/01/04 | $776.00 (100% FPL) | $1041.00 (100% FPL) |
| 4/01/05 | $798.00 (100% FPL) | $1070.00 (100% FPL) |
Refer to tables below for the income maximums beginning September 1, 2005
MHABD NON-SPEND DOWN OAA/PTD INCOME LIMITS
EFFECTIVE DATE |
SINGLE | COUPLE |
| 9/01/05 | $678.00 (85% FPL) | $909.00 (85% FPL) |
| 4/01/06 | $695.00 | $935.00 |
| 4/01/07 | $724.00 | $970.00 |
| 4/01/08 | $737.00 | $992.00 |
| 4/01/09 | $768.00 | $1033.00 |
| 4/01/11 | $772.00 | $1042.00 |
| 4/01/12 | $792.00 | $1072.00 |
| 4/01/13 | $814.00 | $1099.00 |
| 4/1/14 | $827.00 | $1115.00 |
| 4/1/15 | $834.00 | $1129.00 |
| 04/01/16 | $842.00 | $1,135.00 |
| 04/01/17 | $855.00 | $1,151.00 |
| 04/01/18 | $860.00 | $1,166.00 |
MHABD NON-SPEND DOWN AB INCOME LIMITS
| EFFECTIVE DATE | SINGLE | COUPLE |
| 9/01/05 | $776.00 (100% FPL) | $1,041.00 (100% FPL) |
| 4/01/06 | $817.00 | $1,100.00 |
| 4/01/07 | $851.00 | $1,141.00 |
| 4/01/08 | $867.00 | $1,167.00 |
| 4/01/09 | $903.00 | $1,215.00 |
| 4/01/11 | $908.00 | $1,226.00 |
| 4/01/12 | $931.00 | $1,261.00 |
| 4/01/13 | $958.00 | $1,293.00 |
| 4/01/14 | $973.00 | $1,311.00 |
| 4/01/15 | $981.00 | $1,328.00 |
| 4/01/16 | $990.00 | $1,335.00 |
| 4/01/17 | $1,005.00 | $1,354.00 |
| 4/01/18 | $1,012.00 | $1,372.00 |