How to apply for West Virginia Medicaid in West Virginia

Medicaid in West Virginia: 2026 Eligibility and How to Apply

Start at WV PATH for most West Virginia Medicaid applications. If you already receive Supplemental Security Income, check whether your Medicaid card has been issued; that route differs from a new expansion application.

Who qualifies for Medicaid in West Virginia

Ask the agency to consider every relevant route:

• Adults ages 19–64: the expansion group, subject to income, Medicare status, residency, and other eligibility rules.
• Children: Medicaid or CHIP, with age-specific income rules.
• Pregnancy: a separate category, with its own income and coverage rules.
• Older adults, people with disabilities, and people who need long-term care: separate rules may consider assets as well as income.

Use the form that fits your health coverage need

The Bureau for Medical Services recommends WV PATH for most health coverage applications. It also offers an All-Programs Application for people applying for several benefits or unsure which Medicaid type they need. The instructions include a separate Rights and Responsibilities form.

The family and individual health applications may need an additional asset-information supplement for some coverage categories. Medicare Premium Assistance also has its own preferred application. Ask the office which forms complete your review instead of assuming one short form covers every situation.

West Virginia says people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are automatically eligible for Medicaid and should receive a card from DoHS. If the card has not arrived, ask DoHS to check the case. SSI is different from Social Security Disability Insurance; do not assume that any Social Security payment produces the same result.

State sources: West Virginia BMS: applying for health care · WV PATH: state benefits portal · Checked September 8, 2026.

2026 Medicaid income limits in West Virginia

The table is an arithmetic reference for the common adult expansion income level, using 2026 HHS poverty guidelines. It is not an official West Virginia eligibility table. The agency decides whose income counts, the applicable category, the effective date, and any rounding or exclusions.

Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines · Checked September 8, 2026.

Source: HealthCare.gov: adult expansion and category differences · Checked September 8, 2026.

Calculation: annual HHS guideline × 1.38; monthly reference = that unrounded annual value ÷ 12. Alaska and Hawaii use their own HHS guidelines. This is not a take-home-pay test or a reason to stop an application near a boundary.

How to apply for Medicaid in West Virginia

1. Start in WV PATH. Use WV PATH or the paper and local-office choices on the BMS application page.
2. Ask which forms you need. For multiple benefits or an unclear category, ask about the All-Programs Application and Rights and Responsibilities form. Tell the office about Medicare, disability or long-term care needs.
3. Get the right help. Call 1-877-716-1212 for guidance; the hotline can take applications for some Medicaid and WVCHIP types. Keep your notice and submit requested information by its deadline.

Application instructions: West Virginia BMS: applying for health care · Checked September 8, 2026.

Common questions

Eligibility guidance reviewed September 8, 2026. Sources and reference periods are shown above. Confirm current category rules with the agency before applying.