Medicaid - number of disabled enrolled by state 2014

There were approximately 11.1 million disabled individuals enrolled in the Medicaid health insurance program in 2014. California was the state with the highest number of disabled enrollees, followed by Pennsylvania and Florida.

Disabled enrollees set to increase

In terms of all Medicaid enrollment groups, children and adults provided the highest numbers of enrollees in 2014. Projections showed that enrollee numbers in all four groups would remain consistent for several years, and disabled enrollees would continue to increase through to 2027. People with disabilities generally require more frequent and specialized medical care, and Medicaid expenditures attributed to disabled enrollees are significantly higher than all other groups.

Medicaid eligibility criteria

Each state has the power to administer its own Medicaid plan differently. However, to participate in the program, the federal government orders states to provide coverage to certain groups, such as low-income families and individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Most disabled people qualify for Medicaid benefits based on their SSI eligibility – applicants for SSI must have a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months and prevents the individual from working.