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Manual Title Chapter Page Revision Date Virginia Medical Assistance Eligibility M01 October 2025 Subchapter Subject Page ending with Page M0120 MEDICAL ASSISTANCE APPLICATION M0120.150 1

M0120.000 Medical Assistance Application

M0120.100 Applying for Medical Assistance

A. Right to Apply An individual cannot be refused the right to complete an application for medical assistance (MA) for himself (the applicant) or any other individual for whom he is authorized to apply. Under no circumstances can an individual be discouraged from asking for assistance for themselves or any person for whom they are a legally responsible or authorized to represent. An applicant may be assisted with the application by an individual of their choice. A face- to-face or telephone interview is not required but may be requested by the applicant or benefits worker. B. Signed Application Required An application for MA must be signed to be valid. Paper forms must bear the written (not typed) signature of the applicant or an individual authorized to apply on their behalf. Applications submitted electronically or through the approved telephonic process at Cover Virginia, the Enterprise Call Center or the Virginia Insurance Marketplace meet the signature requirement. 1. Unsigned Application A paper application that bears no signature is invalid. Return the application to the applicant with a letter requesting a signature. 2. Invalid Signature An application that is signed by an individual who is not authorized to sign on behalf of the applicant is invalid. For paper applications, return the application with a letter indicating who must sign the application to the individual who filed the application on behalf of the applicant. See M0120, Appendix 1 for a sample letter. If an electronic application does not bear a valid signature, the agency must obtain a valid signature from the applicant or his authorized representative for the case record. The signature page of a paper application form can be used.

M0120.150 When An Application Is Required

A. New Application Required A new application is required when there is: • an initial request for medical assistance, or • a request to add a person to an existing case. When an application is received because there is a new person in the family for whom medical assistance is requested, the annual renewal for the existing enrollees is done using the same application form. See subchapter M1520 for renewal policy and procedures.

B. Application NOT Required A new application is not required when an individual is already an active Medicaid enrollee or is enrolled in another medical assistance program. An application is not needed for a child turning age one when the child was deemed to be eligible based on the mother’s enrollment at the time of birth. A renewal following the procedures in M1520 must be completed when the child turns one. Act on the enrollment of a deemed newborn within seven days when the birth is reported to the local DSS office or to DMAS. Changes in the enrollee’s circumstances do not require a new application. Changes that do not require a new application include, but are not limited to,