How to Get Free Medical & Dental Insurance for a Poor Person

If you or your family meet certain income requirements, you may be eligible for government-subsidized health insurance. Income limits are based on a scale called the federal poverty level. The federal poverty guideline, or PVL, changes each year and takes into consideration your family's size. In addition to your family's income, your assets, such as investments, stocks and bonds, are evaluated.

Things You'll Need

• Proof of income for the past three months (six months in some states)
• Social security numbers for you and your family
• Birth certificates for minor family members
• Investment portfolio (if applicable)
• Current bank statement(s)
• Current utility statements
• Rent receipt or mortgage payment stub
• Driver's license for the applicant (and spouse, if applicable)

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Instructions

Medicaid (MediCal in California)

• 1

  Travel to your local Department of Jobs and Family Services or Human Services facility and tell the receptionist that you wish to apply for Medicaid benefits for yourself or your family.

  The receptionist will give you a paper application that outlines the income and asset guidelines as well as time lines regarding how long the state has to approve or deny your application.

• 2

  Fill out the application on site. Refer to your pay stubs to input income information as required. Use social security cards to input social security numbers for yourself and all of your family members.

  Return the application to the receptionist. Ask the receptionist to make copies of your family's birth certificates and your driver's license, and copies of pay stubs and financial documents such as your investment portfolio (if applicable), rent receipt or mortgage payment stub, current utility statements and bank statements. Turn in these items along with your application. They help caseworkers determine your eligibility for Medicaid.

• 3

  If you are given an appointment to interview with a caseworker, keep the appointment. Be 10 to 15 minutes early in case there is a long line at check in. Bring all required documentation with you to the appointment. A list of documents to bring will be mailed to you before your appointment, or someone at the Jobs and Family Services or Human Services offices will have let you know what to bring when you turned in your application.

• 4

  It can take up to 30 days for you application to be processed and approved.

  The best way to ensure that your application will be reviewed in a timely manner is to make sure that your caseworker has all of the required documentation that he requests as quickly as possible.

• 5

  If you are approved, you will receive information on your new health insurance plan, including applicable deductibles (if any), benefits and co-pays (if applicable) in the mail.

  You will have to reapply for benefits every six to 12 months.