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States that Have Eliminated 90-day
Retroactive Medicaid Coverage

This chart highlights the state laws related to Medicaid retroactive coverage. When you apply for Medicaid, if approved, your state Medicaid program may cover any medical expenses that you have had, up to 90 days in the past. Check back often, as this chart is updated frequently.

If you don't find what you're looking for, see our other Charts of Medicaid State Laws:

For more information, visit our Medicaid Topics Page. If you are looking for state laws about health insurance generally, return to the main state laws page.

StateStates That Eliminated 90-day Retroactive Medicaid Coverage
ALABAMANOT ELIMINATED: "Individuals who have incurred medical expenses for the three months immediately preceding the month of application for Medicaid or the three months prior to the receipt of the first SSI check (for SSI cases), may become eligible for Medicaid benefits during that time provided all eligibility requirements are met for each month."https://casetext.com/regulation/alabama-administrative-code/title-560-alabama-medicaid-agency/chapter-560-x-25-medicaid-eligibility/section-560-x-25-12-periods-of-entitlement
ALASKANOT ELIMINATED: " At the time of application or interview, an applicant may request Medicaid coverage for a maximum of three months immediately preceding the month of application if the applicant has unpaid medical expenses for dates of service any time during that three-month period."https://casetext.com/regulation/alaska-administrative-code/title-7-health-and-social-services/part-7-medicaid-assistance-eligibility/chapter-100-medicaid-eligibility/article-1-common-medicaid-eligibility-requirements/section-7-aac-100072-retroactive-medicaid-eligibility#:~:text=Section%207%20AAC%20100.072%20%2D%20Retroactive%20Medicaid%20eligibility%20(a)%20At,time%20during%20that%20three%2Dmonth
ARIZONACoverage for most newly eligible members will be retroactive to the first day of the month in which the Medicaid application is received. Pregnant women and children up to age 19 exempt from this requirement.https://www.azahcccs.gov/PlansProviders/RatesAndBilling/FFS/priorqtrcoverage.html
ARKANSASShortened to 30 Dayshttps://www.healthinsurance.org/medicaid/arkansas/
CALIFORNIANOT ELIMINATED: "'Retroactive' Medi-Cal covers unpaid medical expenses from the three months prior to the month you apply for Medi-Cal."https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/Medi-Cal%20FAQ%206.9.22_0.pdf
COLORADONOT ELIMINATED: "Health First Colorado coverage may be retroactive up to 3 months before the date of the application. This means that a person has 3 months from the date of treatment to apply for Health First Colorado so that coverage will be retroactive to cover the treatment received."https://takecarehealthmatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Medicaid-for-Justice-Involved-Adults_FINAL.pdf
CONNECTICUTNOT ELIMINATED: "Under federal regulations, individuals are eligible for up to three months of retroactive Medicaid coverage, provided they (1) received Medicaid-covered services during that time and (2) would have been Medicaid eligible if they had applied (42 CFR § 435.915)."https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/BA/2018SB-00151-R000085-BA.htm
DELAWAREEliminated except for instituionalized individuals in nursing facilities, qualified disabled working individuals, pregnant women, and children under age 19.https://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Waivers/1115/downloads/de/de-dshp-ca.pdf
*DISTRICT OF COLUMBIANOT ELIMINATED
FLORIDAEliminated except for pregnant women and children under age 21. Eligibility begins on the first day of the month that the application is received.https://ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid/Policy_and_Quality/Policy/program_policy/eligibility/retro_elig.shtml
GEORGIAEliminated except "[a] woman may be eligible for up to three months of retroactive coverage before the date of application as long as she was financially eligible and pregnant in those retroactive months."https://medicaid.georgia.gov/eligibility-faqs#:~:text=A%20woman%20may%20be%20eligible,pregnant%20in%20those%20retroactive%20months.
HAWAII
IDAHONOT ELIMINATED: "Title XIX and Title XXI can begin up to three (3) calendar months before the application month if the participant is eligible during the prior period. Coverage is provided if services that can be paid by Medicaid were received in the prior period."https://casetext.com/regulation/idaho-administrative-code/title-idapa-16-health-and-welfare-department-of/rule-160301-eligibility-for-health-care-assistance-for-families-and-children/application-requirements/section-160301150-retroactive-medical-assistance-eligibility
ILLINOISNOT ELIMINATED: "Eligible persons may receive retroactive medical coverage beginning three months prior to the month of application per PM 17-02-05-a."https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=61290
INDIANAEliminated except for children and pregnant womenhttps://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demonstrations/downloads/in-healthy-indiana-plan-support-20-ca-01012021.pdf
IOWAEligibility begins on the first day of the month that the application is received except for pregnant women, infants under age of 1, nursing home residentshttps://medcom.uiowa.edu/theloop/announcements/iowa-medicaid-change-ends-retroactive-benefits
KANSASNOT ELIMINATED: " If needed, eligibility may also be determined for three months prior to the month of request."https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/kfmam/main.asp?tier1=02000&tier2=02340&tier3=2340&tier4=02
KENTUCKYNOT ELIMINATED: "The Kentucky HEALTH Medicaid waiver was never implemented, despite being approved twice by the federal government. And Governor Beshear has officially terminated the waiver as of late 2019."https://www.healthinsurance.org/medicaid/kentucky/
LOUISIANANOT ELIMINATED: "** Upon the SSI approval or denial interface indicating that retroactive coverage was requested, the applicant/beneficiary is notified of their right to request Medicaid coverage for the three months prior to SSI application."https://ldh.la.gov/assets/medicaid/MedicaidEligibilityPolicy/H-700.pdf
MAINENOT ELIMINATED: "An applicant for Medicaid may receive retroactive coverage of up to three months prior to the application month."https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/144/ch332/144c332-sans-extras.docx
MARYLANDNOT ELIMINATED: "Your coverage begins on the first day of the month that you applied. You also may be able to get help with medical bills that you incurred up to 3 months before you applied."https://www.peoples-law.org/medicaid-maryland
MASSACHUSETTSNOT ELIMINATED: See program for detailshttps://www.mass.gov/doc/masshealth-eligibility-flexibilities-for-covid-19-0/download
MICHIGANNOT ELIMINATED: "Healthy Michigan Plan will cover medical bills retroactively up to three months"https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.mpca.net/resource/resmgr/HMP_FAQ_5_28_14.pdf
MINNESOTANOT ELIMINATED: "MA can retroactively pay for the cost of health care services provided to an individual up to three months before the month of application"https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/medastib.pdf
MISSISSIPPINOT ELIMINATED: "Retroactive Medicaid eligibility may be available to any Medicaid applicant who received medical care prior to applying for Medicaid. Applicants may qualify for coverage for a 3-month period prior to the month of the application."https://medicaid.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Section-101.10.04.pdf
MISSOURINOT ELIMINATED: See program for details
MONTANANOT ELIMINATED: "Three month retroactive coverage will be provided to individuals...[who are deemed eligible]"https://rules.mt.gov/gateway/RuleNo.asp?RN=37%2E82%2E904
NEBRASKANOT ELIMINATED: "The effective date of Medicaid can be determined up to three months prior to the month of application."https://www.nebraska.gov/rules-and-regs/regsearch/Rules/Health_and_Human_Services_System/Title-477/Chapter-04.pdf
NEVADANOT ELIMINATED: "Nevada Medicaid offers up to three months of retroactive eligibility from the date in which the individual filed their application for assistance."https://www.medicaid.nv.gov/downloads/provider/nv_billing_general.pdf
NEW HAMPSHIREEffective on first day of month in which application is filed, except for "Pregnant women, Children under age 19, Parent or caretaker relatives, individuals in aged, blind, or disabled eligibility groups"https://www.healthinsurance.org/medicaid/new-hampshire/
NEW JERSEYNOT ELIMINATED: " Eligibility for retroactive Medicaid for any of the three months prior to the month of application shall exist (assuming all other factors of eligibility are met) if the family's income, using the income methodologies and standards in effect as of July 16, 1996 for the AFDC program, would have qualified them for AFDC."https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-Admin-Code-SS-10-90-5.7
NEW MEXICONOT ELIMINTAED: Retroactive medicaid is allowed for up to three months prior to the application month for the following medicaid categories: (1) other adults (COE 100); (2) parent caretaker (COE 200); (3) pregnant women (COE 300); (4) pregnancy-related services (COE 301); (5) children under age 19 (COEs 400, 401, 402, 403, 420, and 421); (6) family planning (COE 029); (7) children, youth and families department (CYFD COEs 017, 037, 046, 047, 066, and 086); (8) supplemental security income (SSI COEs 001, 003, and 004); (9) SSI (COEs 001, 003, and 004, e.g. 503s, disabled adult children, ping pongs, and early widowers); (10) working disabled individuals (COE 074); (11) breast and cervical cancer (BCC COE 052); (12) specified low income beneficiaries (SLIMB COE 045); (13) qualified individuals (QI1 COE 042); (14) qualified disabled working individuals (COE 050); (15) refugees (COE 049); and (16) institutional care medicaid (COEs 081, 083, and 084) excluding the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE).https://casetext.com/regulation/new-mexico-administrative-code/title-8-social-services/chapter-200-medicaid-eligibility-general-recipient-policies/part-400-general-medicaid-eligibility/section-820040014-retroactive-medicaid
NEW YORKNOT ELIMINATED: "Medicaid provides free health insurance for low-income adults and children. It may also provide up to 90 days of retroactive coverage for unpaid medical bills, if you request this coverage and are eligible during those 90 days."https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ochia/coverage-care/medicaid.page#:~:text=What%20is%20Medicaid%3F,eligible%20during%20those%2090%20days.
NORTH CAROLINANOT ELIMINATED: "Someone who has medical bills in one or all 3 months prior to application date may apply for these bills, if all other eligibility factors are met."https://www.hendersoncountync.gov/socialservices/page/medicaid-faq
NORTH DAKOTANOT ELIMINATED: "Retroactive eligibility may be established for as many as three calendar months prior to the month in which the signed application was received."https://www.nd.gov/dhs/policymanuals/51005/Content/510_05_25_10.htm#:~:text=Retroactive%20eligibility%20may%20be%20established,each%20month%20of%20retroactive%20benefits.
OHIO
OKLAHOMAEliminated except for pregnant women, children under age 19 and the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD)https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid-chip-program-information/by-topics/waivers/1115/downloads/ok/ok-soonercare-ca.pdf
OREGONhttps://www.macpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Medicaid-Retroactive-Eligibility-Changes-under-Section-1115-Waivers.pdf
PENNSYLVANIA
*PUERTO RICONOT ELIMINATED: See 1902(A)(34) "THREE-MONTH RETROACTIVE ELIGIBILITY."https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2018-title42-vol4/xml/CFR-2018-title42-vol4-part436.xml
RHODE ISLANDNOT ELIMINATED: "Medicaid beneficiaries who meet the SSI-related eligibility criteria may request retroactive eligibility for UP TO THREE (3) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE MONTH OF APPLICATION."https://eohhs.ri.gov/media/31436/download
SOUTH CAROLINANOT ELIMINATED: "Medicaid eligibility may be retroactive for a maximum of three months prior to the month of application when the applicant received medical services of the type covered by Medicaid and the applicant would have met all eligibility criteria had the application been filed at the time."https://www.scdhhs.gov/internet/pdf/manuals-archive/dme/Section%201.pdf
SOUTH DAKOTANOT ELIMINATED: "An individual may request retroactive coverage for the three months immediately preceding the application month if the individual had health care expenses in those months and met the South Dakota Medicaid eligibility criteria in those months."https://dss.sd.gov/docs/medicaid/providers/billingmanuals/General/Recipient_Eligibility.pdf
TENNESSEEEliminated except for pregnant women and children under age 21.https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/tenncare/documents/tenncarewaiver.pdf
TEXASNOT ELIMINATED: "A person may be eligible for Medicaid coverage for up to three months prior to the month of application"https://www.hhs.texas.gov/handbooks/medicaid-elderly-people-disabilities-handbook/g-7000-prior-coverage
UTAHEliminated for most adults above age 19https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demonstrations/downloads/ut-primary-care-network-state-ltr-08102021.pdf
VERMONT
VIRGINIANOT ELIMINATED: "When a person is determined to be eligible for the New Health Coverage for Adults, it may retroactively pay any outstanding medical bills for the three months prior to the application date."https://www.vhcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Overview-2-2021.pdf
WASHINGTONNOT ELIMINATED: "The medicaid agency approves a retroactive Washington apple health (WAH) certification period for the three months immediately before the month of application"https://www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-cost-health-care/i-help-others-apply-and-access-apple-health/wac-182-504-0005-washington-apple-health-retroactive-certification-period
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSINNOT ELIMINATED: "The retroactive enrollment period may be backdated up to three months prior to the month of application if all enrollment requirements were met during the period."https://www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/WIPortal/Subsystem/KW/Print.aspx?ia=1&p=1&sa=50&s=6&c=38&nt=Retroactive+Enrollment#:~:text=A%20member's%20enrollment%20may%20be,were%20met%20during%20the%20period.
WYOMINGNOT ELIMINATED: "If you have medical bills in the 3 months before you submit an application for Medicaid, you may be eligible for Medicaid to pay those bills."https://health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/medicaid/faqs/
GUAMNOT ELIMINATED: See 1902(A)(34) "THREE-MONTH RETROACTIVE ELIGIBILITY."https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2018-title42-vol4/xml/CFR-2018-title42-vol4-part436.xml
LAST UPDATE12/22

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