I Applied for Medicaid, Now What?

  • You can expect a benefits determination to be made within 30 to 45 days after the application is submitted to the Department of Job and Family Services.
  • You will receive a Notice of Approval or Denial.  The Notice must contain a clear statement of the agency’s action and the reason for it. If you are approved, it will also contain the date that aid begins and the amount of the aid.  If you are denied, it must contain the means of challenging the decision.
  • If you are unhappy with the ruling or if you do not receive an approval or denial in a reasonable amount of time, you can request a State Hearing. Requests can be made by the applicant orally or in writing and must be made within 90 days of the notice being mailed. If the request is not being made by the applicant himself, it will need to be made in writing by an Authorized Representative with a written authorization designating the Authorized Representative by the applicant.
  • You may wish to consider hiring an attorney to represent you at the State Hearing in order to examine the agency case file, utilize witnesses, exhibits and other supporting evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and prepare a written brief.