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People with disabilities

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability & Medicaid coverage

If you have Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Disability, you may get Medicaid coverage automatically or you may have to apply.

If you get SSI Disability and have Medicaid

You’re considered covered under the health care law. You don’t need to get a Marketplace plan. You won’t have to pay the penalty that people without coverage must pay.

If you get SSI Disability and don’t have Medicaid

You can apply for Medicaid coverage. But whether you need to apply depends on your state
  • In many states, SSI recipients automatically qualify for Medicaid and don’t have to fill out a Medicaid application.
  • In other states, your SSI guarantees you Medicaid eligibility, but you have to sign up for it.
  • In a few states, SSI doesn’t guarantee Medicaid eligibility. But most people who get SSI are still eligible.
If you have SSI Disability and don’t have Medicaid, you can apply for Medicaid coverage 2 ways:
  • Select your state from the menu on this Medicaid page for contact information.
  • Create an account or log in to complete an application.
    • Answer “yes” when asked if you have a disability, and we’ll send your application to your state Medicaid office.
    • Note: When filling out your Marketplace application, don’t include SSI Disability payments when estimating your income.
Notice:
Some states have expanded their Medicaid programs to cover more people. Even if you get SSI but aren’t automatically eligible for Medicaid, it’s a good idea to apply. This is true even if you’ve been turned down for Medicaid in the past.
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