I asked a professional with many years experience in medical social work. For Medicaid (as opposed to Medicare which goes with you), typically a person cannot

I asked a professional with many years experience in medical social work. For Medicaid (as opposed to Medicare which goes with you), typically a person cannot apply until they land in the new state. And again typically there will be a gap in coverage before a Medicaid benefit will kick in. My direct advice is to use a lawyer if your friend's father, family and friends have the financial resources. You can get a referral through the state bar and I would do it by phone just so you can provide details relevant to finding the right specialization. Because dealing with the paperwork aspect of the complexity you are trying to solve is what lawyers do. And because lawyers are a good way to grind through a benefits bureaucracy...so long as you don't have unreasonable expectations.