Moving to or from Kentucky with Medicaid
Moving TO Kentucky
Kentucky Medicaid does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Kentucky resident applies fresh through Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services. There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Kentucky's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Kentucky
Leaving Kentucky ends your Kentucky Medicaid case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services ↗ (application page)
Kentucky Medicaid at a glance
| Program name | Kentucky Medicaid |
|---|---|
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level |
| Processing | up to 45 days |
Common questions
Who runs Medicaid in Kentucky?
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Medicaid Services. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Kentucky make new residents wait for Medicaid?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for Medicaid. You apply as soon as you live in Kentucky; eligibility is decided on Kentucky's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Kentucky?
Apply for and manage Medicaid — including reporting household changes — through kynect benefits, or contact the DCBS call center at (855) 306-8959.
Every move involving Kentucky
From Kentucky to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Kentucky from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- CHFS — How to Apply for Medicaid — accessed 2026-08-08
- kynect — Medicaid, KCHIP & APTC — accessed 2026-08-08