How to Apply for Medicaid Health Insurance

Medicaid is a federal insurance program with state-specific eligibility requirements. After applying for Medicaid, a caseworker reviews your application and schedules a face-to-face interview. Following a checklist when applying for coverage helps prepare you for the Medicaid interview. Your county Department of Human Services keeps applications on hand with your state’s requirements for completion.

Financial Information

• Paycheck stubs provide part of the financial information needed to complete your application.

  Your caseworker may ask about the balances of all your banking and financial investment accounts for the previous month — sometimes the two previous months, depending on your state's requirements. You will need to bring financial information with you to the interview, including four paycheck stubs for weekly pay or two stubs if your pay-period occurs every two weeks or twice monthly. Preparation for the financial questions during the interview is important because your caseworker bases eligibility for Medicaid on your income compared against your household size.

Proof of Residency

• Utility bills show your service address as proof of where you live.

  Federal guidelines for Medicaid applications require that you show proof of residency. Because Medicaid is state-specific, you need to prove that you have lived in the state in which you are applying for at least six months. Utility bills with your current physical address are sufficient evidence of residency. If all of your utility bills list a post office box as your billing address, highlight the service address listed on certain bills such as electricity, water and satellite or cable service providers. Some people pay their utility bills as part of their rent, in which case the utility bills list the property owner’s name instead of the applicant’s name. To address this issue, bring a copy of your lease agreement, which shows the date on which you took residence and the address of the home. Alternatively, somebody other than a relative may write a letter of reference to explain where you live and how many people live in your household.

Proof of Identity

• A driver's license is an accepted proof of identity.

  Applications must include personal identification from two different sources, such as a driver’s license, passport, social security card, birth certificate and other acceptable documents listed on your state’s application. Because Medicaid fraud is an issue, only original or certified copies of these documents meet requirements. Your caseworker will make photocopies of all the records that you bring to the interview.

Primary Insurance

• Medicaid can supplement your primary health care plan if you qualify.

  Medicaid insurance includes different options that cater to certain demographics. If you have primary insurance coverage, you may qualify for a branch of Medicaid as a secondary insurance option that supplements what your primary insurance does not cover. Family Planning Medicaid is a secondary insurance option that provides medical insurance for services that cater to women’s reproductive needs, including birth control and annual examinations. For Medicare patients, specific Medicaid options help cover the cost of prescriptions.