Medicaid program is a safety net for individuals who cannot afford health care. Medicaid is a federally funded program that provides low-income families and individuals with access to health insurance. To qualify for the Medicaid program, an individual or family must not exceed an income threshold. To apply for Medicaid, applicants should submit an application at a local human services office. Once approved for the Medicaid program, individuals can check the status of their benefits at any time.
Contact your Medicaid caseworker, whether in person or over the phone.
Ask your caseworker to check on the status of your benefits. In some cases, she may require that you visit the office to complete an authorization form.
Provide the caseworker with your Social Security number and Medicaid I.D number. The Medicaid I.D number is found on the back of your Medicaid card, next to your name.
Pick up your Medicaid benefit status report at your local Human Services office or wait for it to arrive in the mail within 7 to 10 days. In some cases, the caseworker will inform you of your status over the phone or in person, if it's readily available.
Tips
If you do not have your caseworker's number, call your local Human Services office and give the receptionist your caseload number. The caseload number is located on the front of your medical card. The receptionist will provide you with your caseworker’s contact information.
References
- CMS.Gov: Overview of the Medicaid Program
- Money Zine: About Medicaid Benefits
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Financial Management." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Medicaid - Eligibility." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Medicaid." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "NHE Fact Sheet." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Federal Poverty Level (FPL)." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library. "Medicare and Medicaid." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- Kaiser Family Foundation. "Federal and State Share of Medicaid Spending." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- Congressional Research Service. "Medicaid’s Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP)," pages 2, 16 and 17. Accessed Aug. 27, 2020,
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "How Much Do States Spend Per Medicaid Enrollee?" Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- Kaiser Family Foundation. "Medicaid Enrollees by Enrollment Group." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- Kaiser Family Foundation. "Medicaid Spending by Enrollment Group." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program, & Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "What to include as income." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "RE: Opportunities to Promote Work and Community Engagement Among Medicaid Beneficiaries," pages 1-10. Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. District Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia. "Charles Gresham v. Alex Azar, II, 19-5094 (D.C. Cir. 2020)," pages 16-19. Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Read the Affordable Care Act." Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- U.S. Supreme Court. "National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, 567 U.S. 519 (2012)," pages 522-524 and 575-588. Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
- Kaiser Family Foundation. "The Uninsured and the ACA: A Primer," page 7. Accessed Aug. 27, 2020.
Writer Bio
Based in Chicago, Kenyonda Bradley has been writing for online publications since 2008. With more than 10 years of experience as a hairstylist, she is also studying to become an elementary school teacher.