The following is the first in our series of frequently asked Medicaid questions and answers which will be posted from time to time:
Question: What Determines Residency for Medicaid Purposes?
Answer: There is no certain period of time that you must be in Indiana prior to qualifying for Medicaid assistance. A simple declaration by a person in Indiana that they intend to make Indiana his or her permanent residence is all that is needed.
When a person is in a nursing home in another state and wants to move to an Indiana nursing home and become eligible for Medicaid in the first year, the person must participate in the Indiana pre-admission screening process prior to moving. The screening is performed by the local Area Agency on Aging for the area that the nursing home is in to make sure nursing home care is medically necessary. You can find your local Area Agency on Aging at www.iaaaa.org.
