This quick guide is designed to guide student support practitioners in Georgia through the process of helping post-secondary students apply for Medicaid. Medicaid gives low-income Georgia residents a health insurance plan to cover routine doctor visits, emergencies, and prescription medicine. That type of physical and mental health care can be instrumental to the success of a student.

Having health insurance is a critical part of basic needs security and can often be the difference in someone’s ability to afford other daily expenses like food and housing. As a state, Georgia has the 4th highest rate of uninsured residents in the country- with 15.48% of adults being uninsured. Students in two-and-four year colleges often face some of the highest barriers to accessing health care, but public insurance options like Medicaid might be able to help. If a student is a single parent or attending school while caring for a dependent child, they might also be eligible for PeachCare for Kids, Georgia’s public health insurance program for children.

Yes! Like with all public benefits programs, Medicaid eligibility can get complicated. However, if students meet income restrictions and other general eligibility criteria, it’s likely that they can receive Medicaid benefits. This knowledge is especially important for students with disabilities or chronic illnesses who might have higher-than-average medical costs, on top of the financial stress of paying for school.

We’ve created a free and easy-to-read Medicaid toolkit for practitioners to help their students get connected to healthcare. Included are two resources aimed to assist in deciding if a student qualifies for Medicaid and how to apply for benefits, according to the State of Georgia.

This yes/no list can help you determine if a student might be eligible for Georgia’s Medicaid Benefits. However, the list doesn’t cover important considerations like income and expenses. We recommend using BestFit’s screening tool to fully evaluate each student profile. You can go here to find how to start using BestFit at your school.

We’ll cover the three main steps of the application process, including a list of what verification or documents might be necessary. Whether you work for a university or simply encounter a lot of students in your daily role, we hope that this information is helpful.

If a student is having a hard time understanding how healthcare and healthcare insurance works, read our tips for demystifying Medicaid practitioners. We also include some tips specific to common student life issues, so that you can tailor your advice and assistance.