Medicaid Guides
Plain-language answers to the questions people ask most about Medicaid — eligibility, applying, coverage, and renewal — that apply nationwide. For state-specific details, visit your state's Medicaid page.
Getting Started
What Is Medicaid?
An overview of how the program works, who runs it, and who it covers.
Read more →Eligibility Requirements
The income, household, age, and state rules that determine who qualifies.
Read more →How to Apply
A step-by-step walkthrough of the application process and what you'll need.
Read more →FAQ
Quick answers to the questions people ask most about Medicaid.
Read more →Eligibility & Costs
Income Limits
Current income cutoffs by state and household size, tied to the Federal Poverty Level.
Read more →Spend-Down
How to qualify by deducting medical bills from income that's above the limit.
Read more →Medicaid vs. Medicare
How the two programs differ — and when you might qualify for both.
Read more →Medicaid & Social Security
How Social Security benefits and Medicaid eligibility interact.
Read more →Coverage & Benefits
What Medicaid Covers
The services every state must cover, plus benefits that vary by state.
Read more →Dental Coverage
What's covered for kids versus adults, and how it varies by state.
Read more →Medicaid for Seniors
How Medicaid pays for nursing home and long-term care for older adults.
Read more →For Pregnant Women
Coverage, income rules, and postpartum benefits during pregnancy.
Read more →Renewal & Reference
Renewal
What redetermination requires, and how to avoid a coverage gap.
Read more →Estate Recovery
When states can seek reimbursement from an enrollee's estate after death.
Read more →Approval Time
Federal processing deadlines and what affects your approval timeline.
Read more →Find a Provider
How to find a Medicaid doctor near you through your state's provider directory.
Read more →