Idaho Medicaid Plus (IMPlus) and the Medicare Medicaid Coordinated Plan (MMCP)

Idaho Medicaid Plus (IMPlus) and the Medicare Medicaid Coordinated Plan (MMCP) are Idaho’s two managed care options for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. Both cover Long-Term Care Medicaid benefits, such as nursing facility care, personal care and the A&D Waiver, and both include care coordination. It sits alongside our Idaho Long-Term Care Medicaid guide, which covers the nursing home rules.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

At a glance

Item	Details
Type of program	Combined Medicare and Medicaid health plan
Who runs it	Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Medicaid), through contracted health plans
Age	21 and older, with Medicare and Medicaid
Care need	Any (long-term care benefits require the usual level of care)
Idaho 2026 income rule (long-term care)	$3,002 a month (individual); $5,984 (couple)
Idaho 2026 asset limit (single applicant)	$2,000
Waiting list	No

IMPlus and the MMCP in brief

To sum up, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (Medicaid), through contracted health plans oversees IMPlus and the MMCP. Its target group is 21 and older, with Medicare and Medicaid; on care need, the rule is: Any (long-term care benefits require the usual level of care). Waiting list status in 2026: No. The sections below repeat these points with more detail, and our state guide covers the Idaho rules that apply to every long-term care program. If IMPlus and the MMCP is not the right fit, the related pages at the end point to other Idaho programs and general guides.

What the program is

IMPlus covers Medicaid benefits only, and the member keeps their Medicare coverage as it is. It is mandatory in 34 Idaho counties for dual-eligible members who are not in the MMCP, with some exemptions. The MMCP is voluntary and combines Medicare (Parts A, B and D) and Medicaid in one plan with extra benefits. Idaho says there is no premium or cost to join either program, and existing waiver share of cost does not change.

Nearly everyone 65 and older on long-term care Medicaid has Medicare as well. Medicare pays first for doctor visits, hospital stays and prescriptions; Medicaid pays for long-term care and many Medicare costs. A coordinated plan saves the member from working out which program pays for what. See Dual eligibility.

Who qualifies in 2026

Eligibility for IMPlus and the MMCP comes down to these points. The person:

Is 21 or older
Has Medicare Parts A, B and D
Has Idaho Medicaid enhanced plan benefits
Lives in a county served by a participating plan
Is not excluded (for example, adults on the developmental disabilities waiver are excluded from IMPlus)

Financial eligibility. The person must already have Idaho Medicaid enhanced plan benefits and Medicare. Idaho’s rules are in our state guide. The income and asset figures in the table above are Idaho’s 2026 Long-Term Care Medicaid figures from our state guide. Idaho Medicaid’s countable assets do not usually include the home (within the equity limit, if the applicant or a spouse lives there or intends to return), one car, personal belongings and a small burial fund. If only one spouse needs IMPlus and the MMCP, spousal impoverishment rules protect assets and income for the other. See Spousal impoverishment rules.

What services it can pay for

What a participant receives under IMPlus and the MMCP follows the care plan. Possible services include:

Care coordination
Nursing facility care (after Medicare)
Personal care services
Aged and Disabled Waiver services
Behavioral health services
Medicare benefits and supplemental benefits (MMCP only)

Not every participant gets every service; the plan reflects assessed need and the help family already gives. When needs grow, request an updated assessment.

How to apply

Applying usually involves two decisions: one about money (financial eligibility for Medicaid) and one about care needs. In plain terms, the steps are:

Watch for an IMPlus selection notice from Idaho Medicaid.
Choose a plan using the enrollment form, or contact Idaho Medicaid’s duals unit.
To join the MMCP instead, contact a participating plan directly.
Your plan assigns a care coordinator.

Before contacting Idaho Medicaid, see Applying for a waiver and the documents checklist for what to gather.

Waiting lists

There is no waiting list. Enrollment in IMPlus is automatic or by choice depending on county.

See Waiver waiting lists for general tips.

How it relates to nursing home Medicaid

IMPlus and MMCP do not change financial eligibility for long-term care. They change how services are arranged. Nursing facility care and A&D Waiver services are covered through the plan.

Where the nursing home rules still apply. Most money rules carry over from nursing home Medicaid. The five-year look-back still matters: a transfer for less than fair value can delay payment for long-term care services. Estate recovery also applies: the state can seek repayment from the estate of a person who received long-term care services after age 55. Under IMPlus and the MMCP, income above an allowance may go toward the cost of care each month.

Income in a nursing home. In 2026, Idaho lets a nursing home resident keep $40 a month for personal needs; the rest of their income mostly pays toward care. The state guide explains the nursing home side.

Choosing a plan: questions to ask

Does the network include my doctors, pharmacy and hospital?
Are my prescriptions on the plan’s drug list, and are there limits on any of them?
How do I reach my care coordinator, and how often will we talk?
How does the plan arrange home care, adult day services or a nursing home if my needs change?
Which extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing, rides) come with the plan?
What are the rules for switching or leaving?

Keep notes with dates; networks and extras can change each year.

Tips for families

Do not wait for a crisis. Lists and assessments for IMPlus and the MMCP take time, and the start date is usually when you first request help.
Document everything, from forms and letters to who you spoke with at Idaho Medicaid and when.
Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
Tell Idaho Medicaid about changes in money, address or household as they happen.
Plan for renewals. Medicaid and the care assessment are both renewed, usually once a year. See Renewals.
Get help with complex IMPlus and the MMCP cases, such as a spouse at home or past gifts. A certified Medicaid planner or a legal aid office can review how Idaho’s rules fit a family’s situation.

Common questions

Do I have to join? IMPlus is mandatory in 34 counties if you are not in the MMCP, with some exemptions such as tribal members.

Does my Medicare change? Not under IMPlus. Under the MMCP, Medicare and Medicaid are combined in one plan.

Can I change plans? Idaho says IMPlus members can change plans once per month.

Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.