APPLYING
FOR MEDICAID
Where
do I go to apply for Medicaid?
You
can apply for Medicaid at several places depending on whether you want
to apply for Medicaid only or Medicaid, food stamps and W-2. (W-2 is the
work program that replaced the AFDC cash assistance program in Wisconsin.
The W-2 program in Milwaukee is run by private agencies.)
Medicaid
and Food Stamps
You
can apply at any W-2 agency where there are county workers available to
take your application. You can also apply at numerous "outstations" set
up at hospitals, community clinics and agencies and at the county human
services agencies.
Medicaid,
Food Stamps and W-2
You
must apply at any W-2 agency if you want W-2, Medicaid and food stamps.
Medicaid
only
If
you only want Medicaid, you can apply at the county human services agencies,
at the W-2 agencies, or at the "outstation" sites.
Call
1-800-362-3002 for more information about the Medicaid application sites.
In Milwaukee call 1-888-947-4600.
What
do I need when I apply?
To
apply for Medicaid, you must have:
Proof
of income (e.g. a check stub from your employer.)
Social
Security card.
Two forms
of identification, including a picture ID.
Proof
of residence. (For example, utility or phone bills or a rent receipt, unless
you are homeless.)
This is
called verification. You will be given a date by which to bring in these
papers. A caseworker should not ask for information that is not necessary
to process your case.
Note:
You cannot be denied the right to apply for Medicaid because you do not
have a birth certificate for yourself or for a member of your family. A
birth certificate is only one of several documents you can use to prove
your age, identity, relationship, etc. Other acceptable documents include
baptismal certificate, hospital birth records, passport, family bible,
school records, etc. If you were born in Wisconsin, your caseworker can
get your birth information from the computer. Also, if you had a prior
open case, the birth certificate information can be obtained by your caseworker
from your previous case file. If you were born outside of Wisconsin and
you need to provide a birth certificate, you must be given time to send
for your birth certificate from your state of birth.
If
you have trouble getting the verification, your caseworker must help you
get it. You cannot be denied Medicaid if you cannot get the verification.
Also, if you have verified something once you cannot be made to verify
it again, unless there is a change. Only if you refuse to provide
verification can you be denied Medicaid.
How
long will it take for me to get Medicaid?
The
law says that the county agency must process your Medicaid application
within 30 days. If you are denied you will get a notice of denial with
information about your right to appeal.
Once
I have become eligible, how long will I continue to get Medicaid?
You
are now required to have a review every 12 months to see if you continue
to be eligible for Medicaid. The food stamp program requires a review every
three months. If you are a food stamp recipient, a review for food stamps
will count as a review for Medicaid also. Medicaid will no longer require
a face-to-face review.
