Good health is
important to everyone. If you can't afford to pay for
medical care right now, Medicaid can make it possible for
you to get the care that you need so that you can get
healthy and stay healthy.
Medicaid is available only to certain low-income individuals
and families who fit into an eligibility group that is
recognized by federal and state law. Medicaid does not pay
money to you; instead, it sends payments directly to your
health care providers. Depending on your state's rules, you
may also be asked to pay a small part of the cost
(co-payment) for some medical services. In general, you
should apply for Medicaid if you have limited income and
resources.
Who can get Medicaid?
You must match one of the descriptions below:
Pregnant Women
Apply for Medicaid if you think you are pregnant. You may be eligible if
you are married or single. If you are on Medicaid when your child is
born, both you and your child will be covered.
Children and Teenagers
Apply for Medicaid if you are the parent or guardian of a child who is
18 years old or younger and your family's income is limited, or if your
child is sick enough to need nursing home care, but could stay home with
good quality care at home. If you are a teenager living on your own, the
state may allow you to apply for Medicaid on your own behalf or any
adult may apply for you. Many states also cover children up to age 21.
Person who is Aged, Blind, and/or Disabled
Apply if you are aged (65 years old or older), blind, or disabled and
have limited income and resources. Apply if you are terminally ill and
want to get hospice services. Apply if you are aged, blind, or disabled;
live in a nursing home; and have limited income and resources. Apply if
you are aged, blind, or disabled and need nursing home care, but can
stay at home with special community care services. Apply if you are
eligible for Medicare and have limited income and resources.
Other Situations
Apply if you are leaving welfare and need health coverage. Apply if you
are a family with children under age 18 and have limited income and
resources. (You do not need to be receiving a welfare check.) Apply if
you have very high medical bills, which you cannot pay (and you are
pregnant, under age 18 or over age 65, blind, or disabled).
Medicaid is a state administered program and each state sets its own
guidelines regarding eligibility and services. To learn more, see: http://www.medicaid.gov/.
Who's eligible for Medicaid?
You may qualify for free or low-cost health care through Medicaid based
on your income and family size. Eligibility rules differ among states.
In all states, Medicaid gives health coverage to some individuals and
families, including children, parents, people who are pregnant, elderly
people with certain incomes, and people with disabilities. Some states
have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover other adults below a
certain income level.
Directly with your state.
Check list below to find your state information.
The Health Insurance Marketplace was created by the
Affordable Care Act and helps you find health coverage
that fits your needs and budget. Every health plan in
the Marketplace offers the same set of essential health
benefits, including doctor visits, preventive care,
hospitalization, prescriptions, and more. You can
compare plans based on price, benefits, quality, and
other features important to you before you make a
choice. People in most states use HealthCare.gov to
apply for and enroll in health coverage.
With one application, you'll see if you qualify for free
or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or CHIP, or for
savings on a Marketplace plan. Most people who apply
will qualify for some kind of savings. For more
information, visit
HealthCare.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center
at 1-800-318-2596, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call
1-855-889-4325.
If your state runs its own Marketplace, you won't use
HealthCare.gov. You'll use your state's website to
enroll in individual/family or small business health
coverage, or both. For a list of State-based
Marketplaces, please visit:
https://www.healthcare.gov/marketplace-in-your-state/.
Access to Care
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
provide critical health coverage for millions of people.
Through these programs, the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) supports access to care in many
ways. Most importantly, people gain access to health care
services that may not be affordable without Medicaid or
CHIP. Additionally, some programs and benefits include
special protections—such as provider network and payment
methods—that help ensure services are accessible.
Preventive care and other services help people stay healthy
and avoid more costly care. CMS offers materials, toolkits,
and other resources for states to help Medicaid and CHIP
beneficiaries learn about these services and how to access
them. CMS also supports many efforts to measure access,
share the results, and promote progress.
Home & Community Based Services
Home and community based services (HCBS) provide
opportunities for Medicaid beneficiaries to receive services
in their own homes or communities rather than institutions
or other isolated settings. These programs serve a variety
of targeted groups, such as older adults, people with
intellectual or developmental disabilities, physical
disabilities, or mental health and substance use disorders.
Managed Care
Managed Care is a health care delivery system organized to
manage cost, utilization, and quality. Medicaid managed care
provides for the delivery of Medicaid health benefits and
additional services through contracted arrangements between
state Medicaid agencies and managed care organizations (MCOs)
that accept a set per member per month (capitation) payment
for these services.
By contracting with various types of MCOs to deliver
Medicaid program health care services to their
beneficiaries, states can reduce Medicaid program costs and
better manage utilization of health services. Improvement in
health plan performance, health care quality, and outcomes
are key objectives of Medicaid managed care.
Some states are implementing a range of initiatives to
coordinate and integrate care beyond traditional managed
care. These initiatives are focused on improving care for
populations with chronic and complex conditions, aligning
payment incentives with performance goals, and building in
accountability for high quality care.
Medicaid & CHIP coverage
Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provide free
or low-cost health coverage to some low-income people, families and
children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
Some states expanded their Medicaid programs to cover all people below
certain income levels.
Even if you don't qualify for Medicaid based on income, you should
apply. You may qualify for your state's program, especially if you have
children, are pregnant, or have a disability. You can apply for Medicaid
and CHIP any time of year.
Apply for Medicaid and
CHIP 2 ways:
1. Fill out an application through the Marketplace
If it looks like anyone in your household qualifies for
Medicaid or CHIP, they'll send your
information to your state agency. They'll contact you about
enrollment.
When you submit your Marketplace
application, you'll also find out if you qualify for cost savings on
a Marketplace plan. Plans may be more affordable than you think.
☎ If you enrolled through NY
State of Health,
call 855-355-5777. If
you enrolled through your Local Department of Social
Services or HRA, find the phone number here.