Medical Assistance (MA) benefits are available to an individual who is a resident of Pennsylvania, assuming all other eligibility requirements are met. There is no specified length of time that an individual must live in the state to meet the residency requirement for MA.
NOTE: Persons who have applied for MA but get MA in another state, in any category including SSI, are eligible for MA in Pennsylvania in the month in which they apply, as long as the individual meets the definition of a resident.
Pennsylvania does not provide MA to cover services received in Pennsylvania by residents of other states. In these situations, it is the responsibility of the other state to provide MA coverage.
An individual of any age who receives an SSI State Supplement is considered a resident of the state making the supplemental payment.
An individual stays a resident of Pennsylvania when leaving the state temporarily, as long as:
The individual plans to return to Pennsylvania when the purpose for leaving is completed.
No other state has decided that the individual is a resident there for MA purposes
.
A resident who receives inpatient hospital care in another county or state is considered a resident of the Pennsylvania county where the individual keeps a permanent home. 55 Pa. Code § 148.11
An individual who lives in an institution, in Pennsylvania or in another state, may be considered a resident of Pennsylvania if certain conditions are met. See Sections 323.23 Individuals Living in an Institution, and 323.24 Individuals Placed by the State in an Out-of-State Institution.
If two states cannot agree about the residence of an MA beneficiary, then the beneficiary is considered to have residency in the state where the individual physically lives.
Updated March 3, 2025, Replacing May 3, 2024