Florida Medicaid Application – What to Expect When You File
Filling out the Florida Medicaid application is your first step to finding out if you meet Florida Medicaid qualifications.
In our Elder Law practice we concentrate in representing you in completing the forms required for funding of Assisted Living or Nursing Home care via Medicaid or Veterans Benefits, and making the changes necessary in your financial structure in order to qualify for that type of funding.
Just filling out the online form won’t do this for you if you fail to meet the strict asset and income requirements. You can learn more about this process on our site so stay with us.
Meeting Florida Medicaid Application Deadlines
One other thing you need to know. Our office typically hand delivers all documents filed with the Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF), and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA).
The reason why we prefer to hand deliver all documents to DCF and DOEA is that we can receive a date-stamped receipt for each document delivered. Medicaid cases are time sensitive, and there are strict deadlines. Accordingly, it is important to be able to document the date of delivery of documents to DCF and DOEA.
In the alternative, we may also mail certain documents which are not as time sensitive to DCF and DOEA. We always use certified mail with return receipt requested, so that we have written proof that the document was delivered to DCF and/or DOEA.
Florida Medicaid Application – Online Filing
On this page we talk about how to file for Medicaid online. Then there are several pieces of information you will need to collect before you make your Florida Medicaid application, including:
- Your Social Security number
- You date of birth
- Proof of identity
- Proof of citizenship
- Income verification, which can include (but is not limited to) income from a job or self-employment, child support or alimony payments, pensions, etc.
- A list of your expenses for housing, utilities, a business or self-employment, food, clothing, etc.
- Information on any assets such as bank accounts, investments, trust funds, vehicles, property, or life/health insurance.
Additionally, when you go to apply for Medicaid online, you can also apply for food stamps or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) with the same application; so there is no need to fill out multiple applications to receive consideration for multiple services. Chances are, if you meet Florida Medicaid qualifications, then you may meet the requirements for some of these other programs as well.
After you submit your Florida Medicaid application, you may be required to attend an interview with a Department of Children & Families (DCF) case worker. This will depend on your situation:
- If you are applying for Medicaid for your child(ren) alone, then no interview will likely be required.
- If you are applying for any other benefits at the same time, then an interview will likely be required.
During this interview, you will be required to bring documents that prove the information that you provided on your initial Florida Medicaid application, in order to prove that you meet Medicaid qualifications.
For example, they may want to see your birth certificate, driver’s license, Social Security card, pay check stub or your tax returns, and your utility bills. For this reason, it is important that you state only accurate and true information when you apply for Medicaid online.
Once you complete this interview, you will receive a call or a letter in the mail that will tell you whether you were approved or denied. If you apply for multiple services when you fill out your Florida Medicaid application, you may be approved for some and denied for others.
To find out how we can help you meet Florida Medicaid qualifications with respect to Assisted Living or Nursing Home care, please see our Practice Area for Medicaid Planning.
Visit our Free Article section for further reading on Florida Medicaid and more elder law issues.