How to Sign Up

Application

There are different ways to apply for Georgia Pathways to Coverage Medicaid:

• Online using Georgia Gateway. Georgia Gateway lets you apply for other programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), at the same time.
• In person at your local Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.
• By downloading the Application for Benefits (Form 297), completing it, and faxing or mailing it to your local Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office.
• By calling the Customer Contact Center toll-free at 1-877-423-4746.

No matter how you apply, it is important to know that if you are not eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to get private insurance subsidized by the government.

Qualifying Activities

When you apply for Pathways, Medicaid checks to see if you are doing 80 hours per month of qualifying activities, like working, going to school, or volunteering. You'll need to provide documentation to show what activities you are doing, such as a pay stub, a letter from your manager, or a transcript.

If you have a disability and need help doing qualifying activities, you can ask for a Pathways reasonable modification when you apply. A Pathways reasonable modification can:

• Give you extra time after you apply to find appropriate qualifying activities, and
• Refer you to the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA). You can do vocational rehabilitation with GVRA instead of doing 80 hours of other qualifying activities, and your vocational counselor will take care of confirming your activities with Pathways for you.

Learn more about requesting a Pathways reasonable modification.

Retroactive Coverage

Once you are approved for Pathways Medicaid, your coverage starts the first day of the month you applied. For example, if you apply in April and get approved in May, you are covered retroactively for April as well. If you have any unpaid medical bills from that month, Medicaid may pay them.

Staying on Medicaid

Usually, once you are approved for Medicaid, you will continue to get it for 12 months if your situation does not change. If your income, immigration status, address, or household size changes, update your information on Georgia Gateway or with your local Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office within 10 days of the change.

You need to report your qualifying activities every year when your Medicaid coverage is renewed. Also, if your qualifying activities change during the year or if you get access to employer-sponsored health coverage, you need to report it. Note: When you report your activities, you need to report your hours and provide documentation to show that you did them. If you don't, you could lose eligibility for Pathways.

When you report your changes, the Georgia Gateway site or your local Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) office will tell you whether you will continue getting Medicaid or if you have new health coverage options.

Requesting an Exception

If you can't complete 80 hours of qualifying activities one month because of a family emergency, illness, temporary homelessness, or other approved reason, you can request a Good Cause Exception. To do so, report a change in your activities and select your reason for a Good Cause Exception.