Moving to or from Pennsylvania with Medicaid
Moving TO Pennsylvania
Medical Assistance (MA) (Pennsylvania's Medicaid program) does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Pennsylvania resident applies fresh through Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs). There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Pennsylvania's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Pennsylvania
Leaving Pennsylvania ends your Medical Assistance (MA) (Pennsylvania's Medicaid program) case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs) effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs) ↗ (application page)
Pennsylvania Medicaid at a glance
| Program name | Medical Assistance (MA) |
|---|---|
| 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (Office of Medical Assistance Programs), which runs the program as Medical Assistance (MA). The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Pennsylvania make new residents wait for Medicaid?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for Medicaid. You apply as soon as you live in Pennsylvania; eligibility is decided on Pennsylvania's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Pennsylvania?
Renew coverage and manage your case through the COMPASS portal, or call the Consumer Service Center for Health Care Coverage at 1-866-550-4355; application status can be tracked at trackmybenefits.pa.gov.
Every move involving Pennsylvania
From Pennsylvania to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- 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
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Pennsylvania from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- 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
- 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.
- PA DHS — Medicaid (Medical Assistance) — accessed 2026-08-08
- COMPASS (online application) — accessed 2026-08-08