Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Issue Date: January 19, 2016

Program Area: Enrollment and Eligibility (ENR)

Question: What does "intends to reside" mean?

Answer: For the purposes of 155.305(a),"intends to reside" means that an applicant has a present intent to reside where he or she is living, and intends to remain in the Exchange service area where he or she is seeking coverage. Individuals visiting an Exchange service area for a transitory purpose, for example, to attend to a business matter, obtain medical care, or for personal pleasure, do not have a present intent to reside, and do not meet the residency requirement for Marketplace coverage for the Marketplace service area they are visiting. Certain individuals who cannot indicate intent, such as children, can establish residency without showing intent to reside. For more information, see 45 C.F.R. 155.305(a)(3) and 42 C.F.R. 435.403.

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