How to Apply for Medicaid
MedicaidState + federal health coverage for low income — Free or very low-cost health coverage run by states with federal money. Eligibility varies by state.Click for official info ↗ is free or very low-cost health coverage. It is for low-income people. Apply through healthcare.gov or your state agency. You can apply any time of year. There is no enrollment window. Eligibility depends on your state. Expansion states cover most adults with income under about $22,025/year. That is 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level for a single person. Non-expansion states mainly cover children, pregnant women, elderly, and disabled people.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free to apply
- Total time:
- Up to 45 days (90 for disability)
- Steps:
- 5 steps
- Where to apply:
- medicaid.gov
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due May 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official US sources(November 2026).
0 of 5 steps
- Before You Go 15 min
Understand your state's rules
In 40 states + DC, Medicaid is expanded. Adults 19–64 qualify if income is under about $22,025/year. That is for a single person. It is 138% of the 2026 federal poverty level. It applies regardless of disability or children. Non-expansion states have far tighter limits for adults. Most are in the South. The median parental eligibility limit is about 40% of the poverty level. That is roughly $10,900/year for a family of three. This is per KFF. Children qualify at higher incomes everywhere via CHIP.
Click to mark as done
- Fill / Prepare 45–60 min
Apply through healthcare.gov or your state
Healthcare.gov sends you to your state's application. Some states run their own application. The application covers Medicaid AND CHIP AND marketplace subsidies in one go. Fill it out even if you are unsure. The system determines what you qualify for. Apply any day of the year.
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- Submit & Pay
Provide verification documents
The state agency asks for proofs. They ask for income, such as pay stubs. They ask for identity. They ask for citizenship/immigration status. They ask for pregnancy proof if it applies. Upload them through the portal. Or mail copies. Reply quickly. Applications pend 45 days. They close if documents are missing at the deadline.
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- Wait Up to 45 days
Get the determination and enrollment packet
Approval letters explain a few things. They explain your coverage start date. They explain your managed-care plan choices. Most states assign a plan on their own. You can switch within 30 days. The letter also explains your doctor network. Denials explain exactly why. They also explain how to appeal.
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- Follow Up
Renew every 12 months
Medicaid requires annual renewals. Your state mails a renewal form about 45 days before your deadline. Return it even if nothing changed. Missing the renewal is the top reason people lose coverage. They lose it while they are still eligible. Note a change under the 2025 federal reconciliation law. Adults in the Medicaid expansion group now have eligibility checked again every 6 months. This applies for renewals scheduled after December 31, 2026, per KFF. Other groups keep the 12-month cycle.
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Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Assuming your state covers every adult. In 40 states plus DC, Medicaid is expanded and adults 19 to 64 qualify if income is under about 22,025 dollars a year for a single person. Non-expansion states have far tighter limits for adults, and the median parental eligibility limit is about 40 percent of the poverty level.
Skipping the application because you think you earn too much. Fill out the application even if you are unsure. The system determines what you qualify for, and the same application covers Medicaid and CHIP and marketplace subsidies in one go. You can apply any day of the year.
Missing the document deadline. The state agency asks for proofs of income, identity, and citizenship or immigration status. Reply quickly. Applications pend 45 days and close if documents are missing at the deadline.
Missing your renewal. Return the renewal form even if nothing changed. Missing the renewal is the top reason people lose coverage while they are still eligible. Adults in the Medicaid expansion group now have eligibility checked again every 6 months for renewals scheduled after December 31, 2026.
Confusing Medicaid with Medicare. MedicareFederal health insurance for 65+ — The federal health insurance program mainly for people 65 and older, plus some younger people with disabilities.Click for official info ↗ is for people who are 65 and older and for disabled people, regardless of income, and premiums apply. Medicaid is based on income and is free or cheap. Some people qualify for both, and Medicaid then covers what Medicare does not, including long-term care.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a lawful permanent resident. When can I get Medicaid?
Most green cardPermanent Resident Card — The ID card proving lawful permanent resident status — live and work in the US permanently.Click for official info ↗ holders must wait 5 years. Some states waive this wait for children and pregnant women. Since October 1, 2026, federal law ended federally funded Medicaid for some groups. These are refugees, asylees, and other humanitarian entrants who do not have green cards. The law is the 2025 reconciliation law (H.R. 1). Some states cover them with state funds. Lawfully residing children and pregnant women remain eligible where the state elects it. This is per KFF analysis. Emergency Medicaid still covers emergency care. It covers it regardless of immigration status. Using Medicaid before you are eligible can be a public-charge problem. Emergency care is exempt.
Is Medicaid the same as Medicare?
No. Medicare is for people who are 65+ and for disabled people. It applies regardless of income. Premiums apply. Medicaid is based on income. It is free/cheap. Some people qualify for both. They are called "dual eligible". Medicaid then covers what Medicare does not. This includes long-term care.
My income is slightly too high for Medicaid. What now?
You likely qualify for a marketplace plan with help on cost instead. The same healthcare.gov application sends you there on its own. Premiums can be as low as $0–$50/month after tax credits. CHIP covers kids in families that earn too much for Medicaid.
Are there new Medicaid work requirements?
Yes. A new rule comes from the 2025 federal reconciliation law (H.R. 1). A June 1, 2026 CMS rule also applies. Non-pregnant adults ages 19–64 must meet a test. They are covered through Medicaid expansion. They must complete at least 80 hours per month. The hours can be work, education, job training, or volunteering. Or they must meet an earnings threshold. This is a condition of eligibility. States must put this in place by January 1, 2027 (a few started earlier). Some people are exempt. Exemptions include pregnant and postpartum people. They include parents and caretakers of children under 14 or people with disabilities. They include people who are disabled or medically frail. They include veterans with a total disability rating. They also include American Indians and Alaska Natives. This is per the CMS interim final rule. On 29 October 2026 a federal court struck down the CMS rule's extra test for the medically frail exemption (Massachusetts v. Oz). People in the five statutory medically frail categories do not have to also prove their condition significantly impairs their ability to meet the work requirement. The court left the January 1, 2027 start date in place and gave the states that sued a 6-month pause on medically frail determinations. The government can appeal, so check your state's guidance.
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