Medicaid: How To Qualify And Apply For Medicaid

One in five people in the U.S. receives free or low-cost health coverage through Medicaid, a joint federal and state program administered by individual states under federal guidelines. Each state has different rules about who qualifies for Medicaid and how to apply.

You can apply for Medicaid anytime and must have documented proof of eligibility, including citizenship, residence, age, income and resources, and medical expenses or disability. Eligibility redeterminations are conducted regularly. If you qualify, you can have both Medicare and Medicaid.

• Free or low-cost health coverage: Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to U.S. residents with low-income, people with disabilities, some Medicare beneficiaries, and others who do not have access to affordable health insurance.
• State rules vary: Medicaid is a joint federal and state health program, but each state has full responsibility for administering the program and has different rules about eligibility and applying for Medicaid. Find out if you qualify and learn how to apply by contacting your state Medicaid program.
• No specific enrollment dates: You can apply for Medicaid at any time. You will be required to show proof of your eligibility when you apply, and ongoing through a renewal/redetermination process, typically once per year, or if your financial situation changes or you move to another state.

Medicaid is a joint federal and state health program that provides health coverage to families with low income, qualified pregnant women and children, and persons who are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

States, following federal guidelines, administer Medicaid programs and are given the option to expand Medicaid coverage. For example, states may provide Medicaid coverage to individuals who are receiving home and community-based services, children in foster care, and adults with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The 2021 FPL is $12,880 for individuals and $17,420 for a family of two.

To qualify for Medicaid, you must meet financial eligibility requirements and be:

• A resident of the state in which you receive Medicaid
• Either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, in addition to meeting financial eligibility requirements

Financial eligibility for Medicaid is generally based on the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which considers taxable income and tax filing relationships. Some individuals who are blind, disabled, or age 65 or older may financially qualify for Medicaid by using the income methodologies of the SSI program, which the Social Security Administration (SSA) administers.

Persons in certain groups do not require a determination of income by Medicaid. Instead, eligibility is based on enrollment in another program. For example:

• The breast and cervical cancer treatment and prevention program
• Adopted children are generally automatically eligible for Medicaid when an adoption assistance agreement is in effect under the SSA Act
• Young adults who are former foster care recipients, regardless of income level

States can also establish a medically needy program for persons with significant health needs whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid otherwise. These states let you subtract your medical expenses from your income to become eligible for Medicaid.

Some states’ Medicaid eligibility requirements are more restrictive than the SSI program. These are known as 209(b) states, and they must allow a spend down to the same income eligibility levels for groups based on disability, blindness, or age (65 or older).

Because each state has different rules about eligibility and how to apply, you must contact your state Medicaid program to find out if you qualify. A good place to start is to see what your state’s income and resource maximum limits are.

One in five Americans has Medicaid coverage. Those who do not qualify are:

• People with incomes that are higher than the limit set by the state in which they live. These limits vary among the states but are more stringent in those states that did not choose to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
• People who are not U.S. citizens or do not meet the requirements for a lawful, permanent resident.
• People who previously qualified but have a status change; for instance, they are no longer pregnant, their income has increased through employment or gift/inheritance, or they have moved to a state with different eligibility requirements.
• People who do not report status changes in a timely manner (typically within 30 days) or who fail to renew during the redetermination period may lose their benefits. Under federal law, you have 90 days to provide your state Medicaid agency with all required information after you lose coverage.

Yes. This is known as dual eligibility, and most of your health care costs are likely covered. Medicare is typically considered to be the primary insurance (unless you also have employer group health plan coverage), and Medicaid is the payer of last resort.

Medicaid pays only after Medicare, employer group health plans, and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) insurance have paid. Note: If you qualify for Medicaid and your income/circumstances are unlikely to change, you should not need supplemental insurance.

Medicaid helps Medicare beneficiaries with Medicare premiums and cost-sharing. Also, it provides many of them with benefits not covered by Medicare, such as help with long-term care needs, some medications, or eyeglasses.

If you, as a Medicare beneficiary, qualify for Medicaid, you are automatically eligible for Extra Help, a Medicare program to assist with paying for drug costs like premiums, copays, and deductibles.

Some states and health plans offer Medicare-Medicaid plans for certain people who have both programs  to make it easier to get the services they need.

As with anything that is Medicaid related, contact your state agency for assistance.

If you are unsure whether or not you might qualify for Medicaid, but you likely meet the financial requirements in your state, you should apply.  You might be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, or disability.

Apply for Medicaid through the Health Insurance Marketplace or directly with your state Medicaid agency. Many Medicaid enrollees get their Medicaid benefits through private managed care plans that contract with the state. You will be advised on how to apply once you access your state’s website, or contact your state’s agency.

Be ready to provide information on your Medicaid application as proof of your eligibility. You should expect to hear back within 45 days or longer if you are disabled. If your application is denied, you will receive a denial notice and instructions on how to appeal the decision.

Keep good records of the documents (copies) you use to complete your application. You may need to supply them again or show updated versions when you are up for renewal/redetermination, depending on your state’s Medicaid program. Be prepared to provide these documents:

• Birth certificate or driver’s license
• Proof of citizenship
• Proof of your residence
• Documentation of all sources of income and assets or other resources
• Documentation of medical expenses
• Proof of your disability, if applicable
• Insurance ID card, if applicable

Don’t wait to apply. Unlike Medicare, there are no restrictions or open enrollment periods, so you can apply at any time. It is better to apply and be turned down than to not try at all. Renewals and redeterminations to ensure continued eligibility will occur at least every 12 months. Some states may require more frequent redeterminations, but in any case, you need to report any change in your status as soon as possible, and within 30 days.

Once your Medicaid eligibility has been determined, your coverage is effective on either the date of the application or the first day of the month of the application. Benefits may be covered retroactively for up to three months prior to when you apply if you would have been eligible during that time frame.

Coverage will stop at the end of the month that you no longer meet the eligibility requirements.

If you have questions or want to check on the status of your application, contact your state Medicaid program directly. Set up an account with the agency/organization that manages your state program.

Even though you may access your application through a state website, local county offices and agents can help you in person or on the phone.

• Health Insurance Marketplace | Last accessed October 2024
• Kaiser Family Foundation: 10 Things to Know About Medicaid | Last accessed October 2024
• Medicaid: Eligibility | Last accessed October 2024
• Medicaid: State Medicaid Programs | Last accessed October 2024
• Medicare: Medicare and Medicaid | Last accessed October 2024
• SSA: How Supplemental Security Income Works | Last accessed October 2024