What to do while waiting for Medicaid approval?

26m based in the Illinois.

I have been on Marketplace insurance since February 2023 when I was laid off. I am still without full-time employment. Last week I submitted an application through Healthcare.gov for 2024 insurance with an expected income in 2024 of $20k (will likely be attending grad school in 2024), and my application decision was "May be eligible for Medicaid based on this month's household income of $500. We're sending this information to your state agency."

I understand that it can take several months for Medicaid approval, so I imagine that I need to enroll in Marketplace insurance in the near term. But whenever I try to search the Marketplace for a plan, the system says that I'm not eligible for a Marketplace plan and need to wait for Medicaid approval.

My question is this: how should I deal with health insurance while I wait for Medicaid approval, assuming I don't receive it until the end of January at the earliest? Do I need to submit a new application with a higher estimated 2024 income to ensure that I get coverage in the near-term, or is there another way to obtain short-term coverage?

submitted by /u/trilaterals_nah
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