Content

• Steps

If you cannot afford to buy private health insurance in the United States, then you have the option of getting Medicaid, which is a type of insurance that is paid for by both the federal and state governments, but each state is responsible for administering the program. Medicaid provides free or very low cost health care for those who cannot afford to pay for health care services because of low income, excessive medical costs, or other justifying circumstances. Find out if you meet the Medicaid eligibility requirements before you apply.

Steps

1. 1 Remember Medicaid is run by the state. Although Medicaid is funded through the state and federal government, the reins of government are in the hands of the state. Therefore, if you want to apply for Medicaid, then you need to check what eligibility requirements are set by your state, as each state has its own rules.
   • The federal state imposes certain requirements on states if they want to host Medicaid, but after that, the states have complete freedom of choice about how to dispose of this program, which means that you can get Medicaid in one state, and in another you will be denied ...
   • Some states administer Medicaid through their in-state programs. For example: Medi-Cal in California, MassHals in Massachusetts, and so on.
2. 2 However, it should be noted that poverty as such will not give you the opportunity to use Medicaid. The main goal of Medicaid is to help those people who cannot afford health insurance to receive medical care. Although the majority of Medicaid users are poor, Medicaid does not extend its services to absolutely all poor people.
   • Medicaid will expand its service coverage to the poor by introducing the Affordable Care Act in 2014, which allows people with earnings below 133% of the federal poverty level to get Medicaid.
   • Until 2014, people who wanted to take advantage of Medicaid had to prove not only that their incomes were below the federal minimum, but also that they belonged to a certain group of people in need.
3. 3 Make sure your income level meets Medicaid requirements. The cap varies from state to state, and most states will pay you very little if your income is slightly above the cap. Find out about your state's financial requirements in the following ways:
   • Find your state's Medicaid website.
   • Find a table that includes the number of family members, as well as annual and monthly income.
   • Compare the state's data with your financial situation to help you determine your eligibility for Medicaid in a particular state. Also remember that if you are expecting a baby, your unborn baby is already a family member.
4. 4 Determine if you are in one of the fitness groups. Eligibility requirements vary from state to state, but in general they fall into the following categories:
   • Pregnant women
   • Disabled
   • The blind
   • Seniors over 65
   • Children under 18 or 21, depending on state
   • People living in intensive care homes or in homes of chronic patients under the supervision of professional nurses
5. 5 You should also remember about documents of citizenship, residence permit or other immigration certificates. Among other things, you will have to prove that you actually live in the state in which you are requesting assistance, are a US citizen, or have an immigration status that allows you to receive this type of assistance.
6. 6 Sometimes, you may automatically be eligible for Medicaid if you are a recipient of one of the following privileges:
   • Medicare
   • Additional social income
   • State or county care for the elderly and disabled
   • Special help for the blind
7. 7 Show proof of pregnancy or malaise if required. Some states will ask you to attach documentary proof that you are sick or that you are expecting a baby.
8. 8 You should also know that you can get retrospective care, which means getting your health care costs back before you applied for Medicaid. In some cases, you may be covered for up to 3 months if you were eligible back then.
9. 9 Once you have determined that you meet all the requirements, check your state's website for details on applying for Medicaid.