UPDATE: In 2020, Medicaid is not expected to undergo any significant changes.
Ohio State residents who are in need of health care can find out how to apply for Medicaid through various avenues. Applicants can apply for Medicaid at any point in the year. There is no deadline to apply for Medicaid online or via any other method, because a person’s income status may change overnight. As long as the applicant meets the Ohio eligibility requirements for Medicaid, he or she will be provided with coverage.
Those who are interested in completing Medicaid application forms are encouraged to check their eligibility and discover where to apply for Medicaid before proceeding to the next step. This way, an applicant can avoid wasting his or her time filling out the Ohio Medicaid application if he or she is not eligible for coverage in the first place.
Review the many different ways to apply for Ohio Medicaid below:
- How to Apply for Medicaid in Ohio Online
- How to Apply for Medicaid in Ohio by Mail
- How to Fax Medicaid Application Forms in OH
- Where Can I Apply for Medicaid in Ohio in Person?
- Where do You Sign Up for Medicaid in Ohio by Phone?
How to Apply for Medicaid in Ohio Online
Applicants can apply for Medicaid online through the state’s Medicaid website, known as “Ohio Benefits.” Access the self-service portal section of the Ohio Benefits website to begin the Ohio Medicaid application process. Ohio Benefits requires each applicant to create a unique username, as well as a password.
Ohio Medicaid applications are not strictly limited to the Ohio Benefits website. You can also apply for Medicaid in Ohio online through the Federal government’s healthcare website. If you opt to apply for Medicaid through the Federal government’s healthcare website and have questions about the application, reach out to the Federal government.
Get all the information you need in order to apply by downloading our in-depth easy guide.
When completing your Ohio Medicaid application, be sure to include your gross monthly income, rather than your net monthly income. If you have no income at all, do not enter zero dollars ($0). The self-service portal will expedite the processing of your Ohio Medicaid application if you put in one dollar ($1) instead of zero dollars, should you currently be unemployed.
Though you are not required to provide your Social Security Number on the Medicaid application, failing to provide it will slow the processing of your application process. If you lack a Social Security Number, or do not remember your Social Security Number, do not put in all zeroes or a phony number when you apply for Medicaid, as doing so will also delay the processing of your Medicaid application.
“Where do you sign up for Medicaid on the web using different devices?” is another query asked by many Medicaid applicants. It is important to note that some web browsers are not compatible with the online Medicaid application self-service portal.
How to Apply for Medicaid in Ohio by Mail
Potential beneficiaries can also complete Medicaid application form by mail. Download, print and fill out the Medicaid application form and mail them to the Department of Job and Family Services office nearest to your residence. The Medicaid application must also be signed and dated. If the application is not signed and dated, it will not be accepted and the applicant will not receive healthcare coverage. Learn more about the various application methods by downloading our guide.
How to Fax Medicaid Application Forms in OH
If an applicant would like to apply for Medicaid by fax, reach out to the Department of Job and Family Services office near your home and ask if they will accept a faxed application. If the office is willing to review faxed Medicaid application forms, add a cover sheet to your faxed correspondence. In some areas, transmitting a fax without a cover sheet is illegal.
Where Can I Apply for Medicaid in Ohio in Person?
If you would like to learn where to apply for Medicaid benefits in person, you can do so at the Department of Job and Family Services office in Ohio. Be sure to read the Medicaid application in-depth before filling it out. Also, bring along the following:
- Copies of pay stubs from the past month
- Documentation of other sources of income
- Proof of citizenship (or your status as an alien)
- Documentation of health/life insurance, if you have any
- Documentation to prove your resources, like cash, stocks, bonds, real property, savings accounts and checking accounts
Those who are wondering where to apply for Medicaid due to disability or because of their elderly status will be required to show proof of the disability or age. Elderly status in the context of Medicaid applications is age 65 or older. If you are not able to sign up for Medicaid yourself, do not fret. It is possible for an authorized representative to complete your Medicaid application on your behalf. However, there are specific requirements for one to qualify as an authorized representative.
Authorized representatives must be at least 18 years of age or older to apply for Medicaid. He or she must be willing to stand in the applicant’s place. Furthermore, the applicant is required to provide a written statement that names the authorized representative, as well as the duties this individual is permitted to perform to apply for Medicaid.
All correspondence and notices issued by Ohio’s Medicaid offices will be issued to the applicant, as well as his or her authorized representative. In most cases, the authorized representative is either a relative or close friend to the elderly or disabled Medicaid coverage applicant.
Where do You Sign Up for Medicaid in Ohio by Phone?
For those who ask the question, “Can I apply for Medicaid by phone?” the aforementioned Federal government’s healthcare call center can be contacted. Although some of the OH Medicaid application will be completed on your behalf, keep in mind that the form will be sent to your postal address, so that the remaining sections on the forms can be filled out. If coverage is granted, the applicant will be mail with further instructions.