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Manual Title Chapter Page Revision Date Virginia Medical Assistance Eligibility M02 October 2016 Subchapter Subject Page ending with Page M0230 VIRGINIA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS M0230.001 1

M0230.000 VIRGINIA RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS

M0230.001 POLICY PRINCIPLES

A. Policy An individual must be a Virginia resident in order to be eligible for Medicaid, but is not required to have a fixed address. This subchapter, M0230, explains in detail how to determine if an individual is a Virginia resident. An individual placed by a Virginia government agency in an institution is considered a Virginia resident for Medicaid purposes even when the institution is in another state (section M0230.203 below). For all other individuals, Virginia residency is dependent on whether the individual is under age 21 years or is age 21 or older (sections M0230.201 and 202 below). B. Retention of Residency Residence is retained until abandoned. Temporary absence from Virginia with subsequent return to the state, or intent to return when the purposes of the absence have been accomplished, does not interrupt continuity of Virginia residence. C. Non-immigrant Aliens Regardless of an individual’s immigration status, accept declaration of Virginia residency on the application as verification of residency. Do NOT require individuals who have been admitted into the U.S. on non-immigrant visas and other non-immigrants to sign a statement of intended residency. D. Cross-Reference to Intra-State Transfer Procedures for handling cases where individuals who are Virginia residents move from one Virginia locality to another are described in subchapter M1520. E. No Fixed Address The agency cannot deny Medicaid to an eligible Virginia resident just because the resident has no fixed address. A Virginia resident is not required to have a fixed address in order to receive Medicaid. For an eligible Virginia resident who does not have a fixed address, use the local social services department's address for the Medicaid card and inform the resident that he must come to the social services department to receive his card until he obtains a fixed address. F. Length of Residency The agency may not deny Medicaid eligibility because an individual has not resided in Virginia for a specified period of time.