Qualifications for Medicaid in Ohio

Ohio Medicaid is a government program designed to assist low-income Ohioans with their health care expenses and to provide health insurance to those who cannot afford it. Applicants for Medicaid in Ohio must satisfy all requirements of the group under which they apply. Applicants are asked to provide documentation that shows they meet Medicaid qualifications.

Basic Qualifications

• Basic qualifications for Medicaid include being an Ohio resident and a U.S. citizen, or, if the applicant is not a citizen, she must reside in the United States legally. Ohio's Department of Job and Family Services will also requires applicants to provide the Social Security number of each person applying for benefits.

Group Requirements

• Applicants must meet the requirements of a specific category to qualify for Ohio Medicaid. The first category includes children up to age 19, families with children up to age 19, or pregnant women. The second group includes individuals who are disabled, legally blind or at least age 65. The Social Security Administration sets the definition of disability. Ohio Medicaid also provides coverage to women with a breast and/or cervical cancer diagnosis who require treatment for the condition. Women with other forms of health insurance are not eligible for the Medicaid coverage.

Income and Resource Limits

• Potential Medicaid recipients must qualify financially for coverage. Applicants filing for Medicaid under the children, families and pregnant women group, as well as women applying under the breast and cervical cancer category, only need to fulfill income requirements. Elderly, disabled and blind applicants must satisfy both income requirements and resource limits.

  Earnings from work, child support or any other income qualify as income under Medicaid guidelines. Cash on-hand, checking and savings accounts, stocks, bonds and property that you own qualify as resources under Medicaid guidelines.

  For instance, if a woman were applying under either the pregnant woman or Breast and Cervical Cancer Project category and is living in a household with four people, the combined household income cannot exceed $3,675 a month or 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The income of a disabled, blind or elderly individual must not exceed $589 a month and his resources cannot exceed $1,500 a month. See Ohio Medicaid Eligibility Guidelines under References for income and resource limits of each group.

Paperwork Requirements

• An individual must submit an application to his local county office to apply for Medicaid; download an application at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services website. Applicants seeking eligibility under the Breast and Cervical Cancer Project should contact the Ohio Department of Health at 614-728-2177 to find out how to apply.

  Applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or other legal status, income, resources, if applicable, other forms of health insurance and pregnancy status, if applicable. An applicant also may be required to attend an in-person interview if he is applying under the elderly, disabled and blind category.