Transferring Medicaid from Washington to Iowa
You cannot carry Washington Medicaid into Iowa. Each state runs its own program, so the sequence is: close the Washington case at the end of your move month, then apply with Iowa Medicaid immediately. New residents are judged on Iowa's income and category rules, not on time lived in the state.
Both states cover adults under expansion rules at 138% of the federal poverty level, so if you qualified on income in Washington, you will likely qualify in Iowa too.
Official Iowa Medicaid agency: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Gather your documents before the move
You will reapply from scratch: proof of identity, income (pay stubs or award letters), your new address, and immigration documents if applicable.
- 2
Tell Washington State Health Care Authority you are leaving
Use Washington Healthplanfinder's 'Update my income or address/report change' function (linked from the HCA Apple Health pages) to report a move.
Washington State Health Care Authority ↗
Moving week
- 3
Time the closure to the end of your move month
Keep coverage through the month you travel. Your old state's coverage generally ends the month you stop being a resident.
After you arrive
- 4
Apply with Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) as soon as you arrive
There is no waiting period based on how long you have lived there — apply immediately. Processing: up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed). From January 1, 2027 (earlier in some states), most adults in the expansion group must also show 80 hours a month of work, school, job training, or community service, or an exemption, possibly for 1 to 3 months preceding the application.
Online application ↗ - 5
Ask about retroactive coverage
Most states can pay eligible medical bills from as early as the third month before the month you apply, so ask when you apply if you had care during the gap. For applications filed on or after January 1, 2027, federal law (Public Law 119-21) shortens this to the month before the month you apply for adults in the expansion group and the second month before the month you apply for everyone else.
Washington vs Iowa: the numbers that decide it
| Washington (old state) | Iowa (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Apple Health | Iowa Medicaid |
| Agency | Washington State Health Care Authority | Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) |
| ACA Medicaid expansion | Yes — adults covered on income | Yes — adults covered on income |
| Adult income limit | 138% of the federal poverty level | 138% of the federal poverty level |
Monthly income limits by household size: Washington vs Iowa
| Household size | Washington | Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $1,836 | $1,836 |
| 2 people | $2,489 | $2,489 |
| 3 people | $3,142 | $3,142 |
| 4 people | $3,795 | $3,795 |
| 5 people | $4,449 | $4,449 |
| 6 people | $5,102 | $5,102 |
Limits for adults, computed from each state's published % of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines and rounded up to the dollar. Children, pregnancy, and 65+/disability rules differ; each state's own chart controls and may still show 2025 figures. Full tables: Washington · Iowa · 2026 poverty guidelines.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Washington → Iowa checklistCommon questions
Can I use my Washington Medicaid in Iowa while I wait?
Generally no. Washington Medicaid only pays providers for Washington residents, and out-of-state care is limited to emergencies. Once you live in Iowa, you need Iowa coverage — apply immediately and ask about retroactive coverage for bills in the gap.
Is there a waiting period for Medicaid in Iowa?
No. States cannot impose a minimum-residency waiting period. You qualify (or not) on Iowa's income and category rules from the day you become a resident. The application itself takes up to 45 days (90 if a disability decision is needed).
Can I have Medicaid in two states at once?
No. You can only receive Medicaid from the state where you live. Keeping an old case open while opening a new one can create repayment problems — close the Washington case effective your move month.
Where do I actually apply in Iowa?
Through Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) (online application linked above). Official Medicaid pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Iowa to Washington Medicaid
- Medicaid in Washington: leaving or arriving
- Medicaid in Iowa: leaving or arriving
- Moving with Medicaid: every state
- Washington to Texas Medicaid
- Washington to Ohio Medicaid
- Washington to Rhode Island Medicaid
- Washington to District of Columbia Medicaid
Other benefits on the same move
- SNAP: Washington to Iowa
- WIC: Washington to Iowa
- Unemployment: Washington to Iowa
- TANF: Washington to Iowa
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Medicaid expansion · Retroactive Medicaid coverage
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- HCA — Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage — accessed 2026-08-08
- HCA — Apple Health for individual adults — accessed 2026-08-08
- Iowa HHS — Iowa Medicaid — accessed 2026-08-08
- Iowa HHS — Iowa Health and Wellness Plan — accessed 2026-08-08