Medicaid Health Coverage and How to Apply in Berks County
Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance, pays for health care services for eligible individuals, and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services takes applications online, in person at the Berks County Assistance Office, by phone and by mail.
Income counts toward eligibility at 138% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. Under the limits effective January 13, 2026, a household of one can have annual income up to $22,025, two up to $29,864, three up to $37,702, four up to $45,540, five up to $53,379, six up to $61,217, seven up to $69,056 and eight up to $76,894, with $7,839 added for each additional person.
Medicaid covers a broad range of physical and behavioral health services, including doctor visits when you are sick, preventive care like health screenings, vaccines, hospital stays, prescription medications, mental health and substance use disorder care, and more. Coverage details are published for dental service, prescription drug coverage, breast and cervical cancer screening and treatment, home and community-based services, the Medical Assistance Transportation Program, care for children and pregnant women, and benefits for workers with disabilities. If you apply and qualify, you will get more information about how to use your benefits and have the opportunity to pick a HealthChoices managed care organization, which works with providers and can help you find doctors in your community.
There are four ways to apply:
- Online through the COMPASS website at compass.dhs.pa.gov.
- By phone, by calling the Consumer Service Center for Health Care Coverage at 1-866-550-4355.
- In person at your local county assistance office, where professionals will help you apply.
- By mail, by downloading, filling out and printing a paper application and sending it to your local County Assistance Office.
For Berks County, that office is the Berks County Assistance Office in the Reading State Office Building, 625 Cherry Street, Reading, PA 19602-1188. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Its general numbers are 610-736-4211 or toll-free 1-866-215-3912. You can submit applications and renewals at your local county assistance office drop box or online using COMPASS, and caseworkers are available at the county assistance office to help you and answer your questions in person or over the phone, if the office is closed to the public.
After you apply, you can check your application at any time at trackmybenefits.pa.gov, which shows updates on LIHEAP, Medicaid, SNAP or TANF applications. Renewals are also handled through COMPASS.
Children up to age 18 with disabilities whose parents make too much money to qualify for traditional Medicaid categories may be able to get Medicaid for Children with Special Needs, known as PH95, which provides full and free Medical Assistance coverage.
If you are not eligible or lost your Medicaid coverage, you may be able to get low-cost or even no-cost health coverage through Pennie, Pennsylvania's official health and dental insurance marketplace. Pennie's open enrollment runs from November through January every year, and depending on your personal situation you may qualify for a special enrollment period.
Important changes are coming to Medicaid in 2027. The page does not list documents to bring with an application, so ask when you call or go in.
Source: pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid, read September 18, 2026.
The details
In Berks County Assistance Office’s words
Medicaid, also known as Medical Assistance (MA), pays for health care services for eligible individuals.
Organization
Berks County Assistance Office
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This listing summarizes publicly available information from pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid. Last recorded review: September 18, 2026. Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, hours and availability before you go. If something here is wrong, tell us.