How to Apply for Alabama Medicaid
Updated August 2026
Alabama's Medicaid application process routes through different agencies depending on what you are applying for. Most applicants go through the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), which processes Medicaid eligibility determinations at the county level.
How to apply for Alabama Medicaid
- Online: Apply through Insure Alabama at insurealabama.adph.state.al.us. This is Alabama's online application for Medicaid coverage for children, parents/caretaker relatives, pregnant women, and the Plan First family planning program. For children, ALL Kids applications are submitted at alabamapublichealth.gov/allkids or through the same portal.
- Local DHR county office: Apply in person at your county Department of Human Resources office. DHR staff can help you complete the application and identify which program you may qualify for. Find your county DHR at dhr.alabama.gov.
- By phone: Call the Alabama Medicaid Agency at 1-800-362-1504. Staff can assist you with questions about eligibility categories and direct you to the right application process.
- Texting service: Alabama Medicaid offers a texting service for recipients. Sign up at medicaid.alabama.gov to receive updates and reminders about your coverage via text message.
What you'll need
- Proof of identity — driver's license, state ID, birth certificate, or passport
- Social Security number for each person applying
- Proof of Alabama residency — utility bill, lease, or mail at your current address
- Income documentation — recent pay stubs (last 30 days), employer letter, or most recent tax return
- Self-employment — profit/loss statement and federal Schedule C from most recent tax return
- Proof of pregnancy for pregnant women applicants
- Disability or blindness documentation if applying under aged/blind/disabled category
- Immigration documents for non-citizen qualified applicants
Applying for seniors and people with disabilities
Seniors age 65 and older and people who are blind or disabled apply through their county DHR office. Eligibility in these categories requires both income and asset review, as well as verification of age or disability status. If disability has not already been established by SSA, the determination process may add time to the application.
For long-term care Medicaid — nursing facility or home and community-based waiver services — additional forms and a level-of-care assessment are required. Contact the Alabama Medicaid Agency or your county DHR office for the specific process.
After you apply
DHR processes most Medicaid applications within 45 days. Applications involving disability determinations may take up to 90 days. If approved, you will receive a Medicaid card in the mail with your member ID and information about your coverage.
In Alabama, most Medicaid members are enrolled in fee-for-service — you can see any Alabama Medicaid-enrolled provider directly without needing a plan referral. Some members in counties with managed care coordination through the Alabama Coordinated Health Network (ACHN) may have additional care coordination support. Your approval notice will indicate what applies to you.
Alabama Medicaid Agency
Visit the official Alabama Medicaid websiteRelated guides
How to Apply
A step-by-step walkthrough of the application process and what you'll need.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →Approval Time
Federal processing deadlines and what affects your approval timeline.
Read more →