A Medicaid application will ask for your Social Security Number and immigration status of everyone living in your household who is applying for Medicaid. This notice tells you when you must give us this information and what will happen if you cannot give us this required information.
Citizenship
Anyone who wants to receive Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) benefits must tell us about their citizenship and immigration status.
Social Security Number
Anyone who wants to receive Medicaid must also give us their Social Security Number. If you do not have a Social Security Number we can assist you with filling out the paperwork. This will not delay your application, but we must have proof that you file for a Social Security Number.
Social Security Numbers will not be used to report anyone to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BICS).
Other Family Members May Get Benefits if you Cannot
If you or any other members of your household are unable to provide proof of eligible immigration status of a valid Social Security Number, that person will be ineligible for Medicaid or CHIP.
Other household members can still get Medicaid or CHIP, if they are eligible. You will still need to tell us about your family income and answer other questions on the application form.
Battered Immigrants
Battered immigrants with verification of their battered status from the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services or the Executive Office of Immigration review, may be eligible to receive Medicaid. The non-abusive parent of a battered child may also be eligible, regardless of whether the child is an immigrant or a United States citizen.
Change in Immigration Status
Receiving Medicaid does not affect becoming a legal permanent resident (obtaining a green card) for an immigrant, refugee or person granted asylum. The exception to this is qualifying for long-term institutional care, such as in a nursing home.
Emergency Medicaid for Certain Immigrants
An immigrant applying only for emergency Medicaid, does not have to provide his or her Social Security Number, information on citizenship or immigration status. Immigrants who are not eligible for Medicaid due to their immigration status may be eligible for emergency services only.
Emergency Medicaid means:
- all other eligibility requirements are met except immigration status,
- the emergency cannot be related to an organ transplant or routine prenatal or postpartum care,
- the services covered relate directly to the injury, illness or delivery causing the emergency. Once the medical condition is stabilized it is no longer an emergency, even if it remains serious.
