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Your home state will need to verify information on your Medicaid application by cross-referencing it with certain documents in which you may be in possession. Having these documents can help you get benefits to which you’re entitled more quickly. In order to do this, you should have copies of:  Your birth certificate, Social Security number, and/or guardianship papers (if applicable). Your driver's license and vehicle registration. Proof of residency in the state in which you are applying for Medicaid. Any pay stubs or other proof of income. Names of your financial institutions and any bank account numbers. Real estate deeds. Unpaid doctor or health care bills. And your Medicare Benefit Card (if applicable). Whether you are filling out a hard copy of an application or answering questions online, make sure to read the entire application and each question carefully and in their entirety before answering them. This can help ensure that you don’t make any mistakes that may disqualify you.  The Medicaid application, as well as those that allow you to simultaneously apply for other benefits such as cash assistance, will ask questions about your date of birth, residence, children, pregnancy, and income. You are also likely to answer questions about disabilities and any other pertinent information to assessing your case. Most state Medicaid applications are a set of screens that are displayed for you with a series of questions on each page. It’s absolutely vital to be honest in your answers or to fill out questions to the best of your knowledge. Knowingly falsifying information is a federal crime, while to the best of your knowledge can disqualify you from benefits. Draw upon your at-hand data about income, disabilities, or other qualifying criteria. This information can help you effectively and honestly answer each question. In addition to honesty and answering questions to the best of your knowledge, it’s also important to respond to as many of the questions as you can. This will help the worker who receives your application more quickly and effectively assess your eligibility and the benefits for which you qualify. The application has certain questions that you must answer. If you do not provide this information, you will not be able to proceed on to the next screen of questions or submit your application. Navigating Medicaid can be confusing and daunting for many people. If you have any questions, don’t be shy about contact local or federal Medicaid officials. They’re there to help you and get you benefits as quickly as possible.  Schedule a time to meet with a Medicaid officer or a social or human services representative if you still have questions or concerns about your eligibility, or the Medicaid application process. You can also contact your county health department. You can contact these authorities by visiting their offices or calling the local Centers for Medicaid and Medicare at +1 (877) 267-2323. After completing each screen, review your answers to all of your questions. This can help ensure that you have answered all of the questions thoroughly and correctly. If you have lingering questions about certain answers, respond to the best of your knowledge or contact your local Medicaid officer. You must sign your application in order to submit it to state authorities for processing. Anyone over the age of 18 may sign the application.  If you submit a hard copy, sign your application with a pen. If you are submitting your application online, you can opt to electronically sign the document. You do not need to submit a signed form via mail or fax if you choose this option. Be aware that only adults over the age of 18 and emancipated minors over the age of 16 can use the electronic signature option. You can submit your Medicaid application either online or by mail or fax. Your home state will not consider your application until you send the application and any supporting materials. Once you’ve submitted, confirm receipt  If you are submitting electronically, you will receive a confirmation on a separate page. You can submit your application at the local Medicaid authority or by mail or fax as well. If sending your application by mail, consider using certified mail to confirm delivery. Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll need to wait for your eligibility, and, where applicable, your benefits determination. This process can take anywhere from a few days to 90 days.  Be sure to follow up on the status of your application if you don't receive a response within a reasonable time. If any of the information from your application changes, make sure to report it to the appropriate Medicaid representatives in your area. This can change the status of your application, eligibility, or benefits determination. Because regulations and personal situations are constantly changing, you need to renew your eligibility for Medicaid every year. In most cases, your home state will contact you when your eligibility is about to expire. If you’ve applied for Medicaid in the past, the renewal process is usually not as long as the initial application.

Summary:
Organize documentation. Read the application. Be honest or answer to the best of your ability. Answer as thoroughly as possible. Reach out if you have questions. Review your application. Sign your application. Submit and confirm your application. Await your determination. Renew your eligibility annually.