| Believe it or not, the current Medicaid requirements are | | | | complicated guidelines the Federal government has set |
| not consistent from one state to another. Since the | | | | to ensure groups of people are automatically covered, |
| Federal government does not clearly state rules for | | | | you should contact your local Social Services or |
| accepting or denying individuals for the Medicaid health | | | | Medicaid office to inquire whether you are eligible for |
| program, it is largely left up to the states to set their | | | | free medical benefits. |
| own guidelines. | | | | When you contact your local office or set an |
| There are some guidelines from the Federal | | | | appointment to apply, make to ask about any other |
| government which tell the states who they absolutely | | | | State operated programs which may be of help to |
| must cover, but they do not list general guidelines | | | | you. Often, states have their own programs which are |
| beyond that for denying or accepting most people. | | | | designed to pick up people who do not qualify for |
| Each state must grant coverage to individuals qualified | | | | Medicaid and give them the help they really need. |
| under the Federal rules, but everyone else is left up to | | | | Most people who qualify under the current Medicaid |
| the individual state's policies. | | | | requirements will also qualify for other services through |
| Two of the most common ways to automatically be | | | | the state or federal government. This may include |
| qualified for the Medicaid program is to receive Federal | | | | food stamps, housing, and other basic living needs. The |
| income assistance of some variety or to prove that | | | | only way to determine whether you qualify any of |
| you are at or below 133% of the current national | | | | these types of services is to walk into your local |
| poverty level. This isn't the same as Medicare | | | | Social Services agency or make an appointment with |
| coverage, which is a different program all to together. | | | | someone in that office. |
| Instead of trying to decipher the rest of the | | | | |