Medical Assistance
Medicaid (medical assistance) provides health care coverage to families who may not otherwise have access to health care. The program is designed to safeguard the health and well-being of Hamilton County residents, particularly children, pregnant women, elderly, and individuals with disabilities.
Some adults with children may also be eligible. By keeping the community in good health, Medicaid allows individuals to remain productive members of society.
Like healthcare coverage, Medicaid may pay for part of the cost of visits to the doctor, hospital expenses, nursing home care and home health care. In some cases, transportation to the doctor may also be available.
Medicaid programs include Healthy Start; Healthy Families; Healthchek; Pregnancy-related services; and Aged, Blind and Disabled among others. Individuals who receive Medicare, but whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid, may be eligible for the Medicare Premium Assistance Program.
Do I Qualify?
Hamilton County Job and Family Services administers several different types of Medicaid but eligibility is usually based on income and circumstances.
Hamilton County Job and Family Services oversees Medicaid programs that provide health care coverage to:
- Income-eligible parents and their children up to age 21
- Preventive and treatment services up to age 21
- Pregnant women
- Older adults
- Income-eligible people with disabilities
- Children in foster care
- Children who have aged out of foster care up to age 21
Submit your Application Online
The quickest and easiest way to apply for health care benefits is to call 1-844-640-6446 and follow the prompts. You may also apply online at www.benefits.ohio.gov. There you will answer a series of questions and your answers will direct you to the correct application for health care.
- If your income is within the new legal limit implemented by Medicaid Expansion (for eligibility effective Jan. 1, 2014), you will be directed to the citizen’s self-service portal.
- If your income is above 205 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, you will be directed to the Federally Facilitated Health Insurance Marketplace to shop for health care.
After you submit your application online, you may be asked to send verification documents to Hamilton County Job and Family Services. The best way to return documents is to fax them to (513) 946-1076. You can fax documents for free from any Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County branch.
Visit www.healthcare.gov or www.benefits.ohio.gov to learn more or call the Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 1-800-324-8680. Representatives are available to answer questions related to eligibility for Medicaid due to the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion and answer questions about where to apply.
Submit a Print Application
If you are unable to complete an application over the phone or online, print a Medicaid-only application, or you can complete an application in person at our office.
The best way to return a print application is to fax it to (513) 946-1076. The application can be faxed for free from an Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County branch.
You can also return applications via mail to 222 East Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45202, deliver them in person to the same location, or call 1-844-640-6446 and follow the prompts
