Medicaid Application Instructions


In order to apply you'll need fill out the Medical Assistance application from and send it to appropriate Med-QUEST eligibility office.

There are several ways to find, fill out and turn in your Medical Assistance application form:

After you've filled out the MA application form, you'll need to send it to your local DHS office or turn it in personally.

Besides having properly filled out application form, you'll also need copies of documents which are used as a proof of your identity, your citizenship status as well as your income and your assets.

A proof of your identity can be your passport, ID card, driver license or any official document with your photo and identity information. You'll also need a proof that you're a U.S. citizen and that can be a U.S. passport, Hawaii ID card or Birth Certificate. If you're a legal alien, you'll need a Permanent Resident Card (I-551), foreign passport with I-94 or I-551 stamp or Employment Authorization Card.

Finally, you'll also need a proof for any income or asset information you've registered while applying for Medicaid or QUEST program. These can be bank statements regarding your current income, paystubs, documents regarding retirement pensions, unemployment insurance benefits, documents on any stocks, bonds or real estate you own (the house you're living in is excerpt from this list). There are also certain assets and income which could not be counted toward the limit for your eligibility status and those are:

  • Home property
  • Motor vehicles
  • Clothing, household furnishing and appliances
  • Welfare payments
  • Food stamps
  • Loans

After you've successfully applied for Medicaid or QUEST, you should receive a definite answer within the 45-day period. This period can be extended to 90 days in case a person with disabilities applied for enrollment.


Eligibility Requirements

There are slight differences on eligibility requirements for Medicaid and QUEST programs. These differences can be found both in general eligibility terms, as well as in asset and income limits.

Medicaid

In general, Medicaid enrollees must meet the following criteria:

  • You need to be a Hawaii resident
  • You need to have a U.S. citizenship or legal immigrant status
  • You need to have a Social Security Number
  • You need to be 65 years of age or older
  • In case you're blind or disabled, you don't need to meet previously set age criteria
  • You need to meet asset and income limits

Assset Limits:

  • Total worth of assets can be $2,000 for a household of one, $3000 for a household of two and $250 for each additional family member.
  • Pregnant woman and children under the age of 19 are excerpt from asset criteria.
  • Countable assets are: available cash, bank accounts, stock, bonds, additional real property and additional motor vehicles. This means that the house you're living in, as well as your primary and only motor vehicle are expert from the asset limits (they're not countable).

Income Limits:

  • Limits for income which make you eligible depend on several inputs like your age, household size, living arrangements as well as your disability status. These standards are based on the Federal Poverty Level. As of July 1, 2012, income limit is 133% of the Federal Poverty Level. This means that if your household has only one member, total income should not exceed $1,425. For a family of two, maximum total income can be $1,930. Click here for a detailed information on the current Federal Poverty Limit.
  • Countable income are wages, self-employment income, pensions, other financial benefits, etc. Non-countable income include welfare income, SSI benefits, food stamps and loans.

Quest

On the other hand, QUEST enrollees must meet the following criteria:

  • You need to be a Hawaii resident
  • You need to be a U.S. citizen or legal alien
  • You need to have a Social Security Number
  • You need to be under the age of 65
  • You must not be disabled or blind (otherwise you can use Medicaid, not QUEST)
  • You shouldn't be eligible for receiving health insurance from your employer
  • You must meet a certain asset and income limit

Asset Limits:

  • Total worth of assets can be $2,000 for a household of one, $3000 for a household of two and $250 for each additional family member.
  • Pregnant woman and children under the age of 19 are excerpt from asset criteria.
  • Countable assets are: available cash, bank accounts, stock, bonds, additional real property and additional motor vehicles. This means that the house you're living in, as well as your primary and only motor vehicle are expert from the asset limits (they're not countable).

Income Limits:

  • You income limit should not exceed 100% of the current Federal Poverty Level.
  • Underage children must not have countable income more than 200% of the FPL.
  • Pregnant woman must not have countable income more than 185% of the FPL.