Medicaid is a health program that provides accessibility to medical health care if you fall under the low- to medium-income guidelines or if your child is part of a certain eligibility groups. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, eligibility depends on your child's status, income, household information and resources. Each state has set forth guidelines on how to apply for Medicaid and it varies accordingly.
Step 1
Determine if your child is eligible for Medicaid coverage. Some states have an online eligibility questionnaire or you can read the eligibility and income guidelines on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website.
Step 2
Find the application for Medicaid. Depending on your state of residence, you may have to obtain an application by visiting one of the available local agencies, such as the Social Security office, Health and Welfare Department or Human Services department. In addition, some states offer the convenience of printing an application from the Internet or applying through electronic transmission.
Step 3
Fill out the application completely and honestly. Upon receiving your application, the caseworker assigned will evaluate and verify all the information that you submitted. When filling out the application, follow the instructions on how to fill out the application, documents required and the process for submitting the application.
Step 4
Assemble the suggested documents that you will need to present to your caseworker or submit in the mail to the Medicaid office. The documents that you might need to submit include proof of identity, birth certificate of all parties on the application, proof of residency and proof of income.
Step 5
Schedule an appointment or visit the local agency that accepts Medicaid applications. During your appointment, be prepared to turn in a copy of your documents for the office to copy or you can make a copy and supply the documents with your application.
Step 6
Wait and be patient. Depending on the state, it can take up to 45 days for you to receive a response. In addition, if the agency requires any additional information or schedules an appointment, you should receive a letter or phone call.
Tips and Warnings
- Fill out the application as completely as possible. If you miss any sections, a delay in processing the application is likely.
- Falsifying information on a Medicaid application is illegal and punishable by law.
Things You'll Need
- Medicaid application
- Documents
- Internet
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