How to Sign Up for Medicaid

You may be eligible for Medicaid health care benefits if you meet income requirements and if you fall into an eligibility group. These eligibility groups include people of certain ages, disabilities or other medical conditions, such as pregnancy. To sign up for Medicaid, talk to a representative at your state Medicaid office. While the federal government funds this program, the states administer it. Each state administers its Medicaid program slightly differently; your state office representative can help guide you through this process.

Things You'll Need

• Proof of identity
• Proof of citizenship
• Proof of income
• Doctor's note
• Medical documents
• Application

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Instructions

• 1

  Check your eligibility before signing up for Medicaid. Go to the Benefits.gov website and use the screening tool. Answer the questions to determine your eligibility for Medicaid and other government programs. The screening tool considers primarily your income, but also U.S. citizenship or residency, as well as certain medical conditions.

• 2

  Find the contact information for your state Medicaid office. The National Association of State Medicaid Directors (see Resources) maintains a website with contact information for each of these offices. Click on your state in this directory.

• 3

  Click on the link for the Medicaid program on your state's website. Locate the office's contact information on this web page.

• 4

  Call the Medicaid office and ask for an appointment to apply for benefits. Ask the office representative to tell you what documents you need to bring. This list will include proof of your identity, citizenship and income. If you have a medical condition, you may need to bring a doctor's note or a similar document.

• 5

  Go to your appointment. Fill out the application and present your documents. The application will request information such as your full name, Social Security number, contact information and medical history. It will also request basic information about any other people who live at your residence.

• 6

  Wait to receive notice of the status of your application. Each state will have different processing times. Call the Medicaid office if you wish to check your status.