My parents in NC are in that exact situation. My dad is on disability and Medicaid, and insurance for my stepmom would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 50% of their income. She doesn't qualify for any assistance. Apparently, 377,000 other North Carolinians don't either. And there are 19 other states in a similar position.

http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts-and-features/state-by-st...