Please feel free to select one of the following links:

• Eligibility & Documentation Requirements
• Citizenship and Identity Verification Assistance
• Patient Assistance Tools
• Contacts & Resources

Background

Since 1986, people applying for or already receiving Medicaid (called MaineCare in Maine) have been required to declare that they are a U.S. citizen (or a legal immigrant, such as a refugee or a permanent resident with a “green card”). This could be done on a Medicaid application by checking off a box (under penalty of perjury) like this:

In February of 2006, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) was enacted. This law requires people applying for or already receiving Medicaid to show documents that prove their citizenship and their identity. It is no longer enough to just declare citizenship. If applicants are unable to prove their citizenship and identity, they will not be allowed to get Medicaid. Current recipients of Medicaid also must prove their citizenship and identity, but they will be allowed some time to get the needed documents. If they cannot get the needed documents, they will no longer be able to get Medicaid. Once a person proves citizenship and identity, they will not have to do it in the future. This means that if they go off the Medicaid program, but later come back on, their citizenship and identity have already been proven. The Impact of the Citizenship and Identity Verification Law Maine began enforcing this law on July 1, 2007. Many other states have also been enforcing this law. Unfortunately, tens of thousands of people from many of these states are no longer receiving Medicaid because they were unable to get the necessary documents that would prove their citizenship and identity. We are working hard in Maine to be sure that all citizens who are entitled to MaineCare are able to get and keep this important health insurance program. DHHS is working to verify citizenship and identity information for as many MaineCare recipients and applicants possible. DHHS will attempt to verify citizenship for all recipients and applicants born in Maine. In addition, DHHS will match names of recipients and applicants with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to verify identity. In order to reach out the thousands of people in Maine who will not have their information verified through this process, we have established the necessary links and information to assist health center staff and Maine residents in verifying citizenship and identity to qualify for MaineCare.

Eligibility & Documentation Requirements

• Basic Eligibility Requirements
• Medicaid Fact Sheet and List of Acceptable Documents
• Exemptions to the Citizenship & Identity Verification Law
• DRA Review Letter and Affidavits (Ages 15 & Under and ages 16 to 18)
• General Frequently Asked Questions
• Maine-Specific Frequently Asked Questions

Patient Assistance Resources

• Screening Tool
• Financial Assistance Application
• What You Need to Do to Get or Keep MaineCare
• MaineCare Citizenship and Identity Brochure
• How to Get a State Identification Card
• Birth Certificate Forms and Vital Records by State
• Birth Certificate Lookup Form

Contacts & Resources

Citizenship and Identity Verification Hotline: 1-800-701-1887

MaineCare Member Services: 1-800-977-6740; TTY 1-800-977-6741

Maine Office of Vital Records: 1-888-664-9491

The following agencies are able to answer questions about the citizenship and identity verification requirement:

Consumers for Affordable Health Care (Augusta)

Maine Equal Justice Partners (Augusta)

Maine Primary Care Association (Augusta)

Amistad, Inc. (Portland)

Community Housing of Maine (Portland)

Preble Street (Portland)

Helpful Links:

Homepage for the requirement within the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidEligibility/05_ProofofCitizenship.asp

Where to Write for Vital Records (links to each state’s applications): http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office locations: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/DHSaddresses.htm

MaineCare application for parents, children, and pregnant women: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/OIAS/public-assistance/
pdf/On-Line-CubCare-Application.pdf

MaineCare general application (can be filled out by anyone—also includes Food Stamps, but this section can be left blank): http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/OIAS/foodstamps/OIAS_IMS01.pdf

Maine Primary Care Association (MEPCA; their website will have information and links related to the Citizenship and Identity Verification Requirement):
http://www.mepca.org/

Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) State Identification Card information: http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/licenses/idcard.html

Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) branch offices and mobile unit locations: http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/locations/

Application for a State of Maine Identification Card: http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/forms/IDcard.pdf

Application for a State of Maine Driver’s License: http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/forms/noncomcapp.pdf