Waiting Periods & Special Circumstances

There are special circumstances and options for eligibility waiting periods for Iowa Medicaid.

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People Who Don't Have to Wait

Some people don't have to wait for eligibility. They include:

  • Veterans and active duty members of the U.S. armed forces, including their spouses and dependent children
  • Canadian born American Indians
  • Lawful Permanent Residents who entered the U.S. on or before August 22, 1996
  • Refugees (including Asylees, persons whose deportations are being withheld, Cuban or Haitian Entrants, Iraqi or Afghani special immigrants, and Amerasians)
  • Members of federally recognized Indian tribes with cross-border treaty rights
  • Lawful Permanent Residents and “lawfully residing” children under age 21 (includes parolees and battered aliens)
  • Victims of trafficking*
  • Compacts of Free Association (COFA) States of the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia

Five Year Waiting Period for Eligibility

  • Lawful Permanent Residents, parolees, and battered aliens aged 21 or over**

*Victims of Human Trafficking: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) certifies individuals who meet the victims of severe human trafficking requirements. These individuals meet the alien status criteria to be potentially eligible for benefits without a five-year waiting period during the period certified by ORR, or if they adjust to another acceptable alien status. 

** Exception to the five-year waiting period: An exception to the five-year waiting period is given to aliens in these categories who entered the U.S. before August 22, 1996, and remained continuously present in the U.S. since at least August 21, 1996

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Emergency Medicaid

Medicaid is available to pay for the cost of emergency services for 

  • aliens who do not meet citizenship, alien status, or social security number requirements.
  • Nonimmigrants, undocumented aliens and lawful permanent resident adults still in their five-year waiting period may qualify for Emergency Medicaid coverage if all other eligibility requirements are met except for alien status.
  • Undocumented aliens are not required to provide a social security number. If determined eligible, the individual is covered by Medicaid only while treatment is needed for an emergency medical condition, as verified by a medical provider.
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Express Lane Eligibility for Children

A determination of Medicaid eligibility is made by Express Lane, an expedited application process, at the time of either Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application or SNAP review is used to determine when a child meets initial eligibility requirements from the Mothers and Children (MAC) coverage group. 

A child will be eligible under MAC without filing a separate application when the child meets the following criteria: 

  • Is under the age of 19
  • Is eligible for SNAP
  • Fulfills SNAP requirements of attestation and verification of qualified alien or citizen status
  • A household member requests the child’s Medicaid enrollment within 30 calendar days of issuance of Express-Lane Eligibility form 470-4851 Express Lane Medicaid for Children
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