To apply for Medicaid or to request more information about Medicaid, call your state medical assistance office. To get the local phone number, call the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY, 1-877-486-2048).
The Medicaid Program - General
Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program. It is partially funded by the Federal Government. It helps many people who cannot afford medical care pay for some or all of their medical bills. Medicaid is available to people and families who have limited income and resources. People who are blind or disabled, age 65 or older, children, or members of families with dependent children may be eligible. Medicaid also can help pay Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance for some individuals. Each state decides who is eligible and the amount of medical care and services it will cover. So, even if you are not sure whether you qualify, you should apply for Medicaid.
Medicaid for SSI Recipients
The District of Columbia and 32 states provide Medicaid to people eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The individual must be eligible for SSI and meet all Medicaid eligibility requirements. In these states, the SSI application also is the Medicaid application. Medicaid eligibility usually starts the same month as SSI eligibility, but in certain circumstances can also be retroactive for up to three months.
The following jurisdictions use the same rules to decide eligibility for Medicaid as Social Security uses for SSI, but a separate application for Medicaid must be filed with the local medical assistance office: Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The following states use their own eligibility rules for Medicaid, which are different from Social Security's SSI rules. In these states, a separate application for Medicaid must be filed: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Virginia.
For more information, see Medicaid for SSI recipients.
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