The Medicaid programs in each and every state include a portion that is designed to cover children. This part is often called CHIP, which stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program. In Kentucky, the program is called KCHIP, and the K stands for Kentucky.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It is designed to provide accessible health care for individuals and families who are low-income, and who cannot afford to purchase a health insurance plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. Funding for Medicaid also comes from the government of an individual state.
In Kentucky, the Medicaid program is administered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. The part of Medicaid that covers children is called KCHIP. It stands for the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program.
KCHIP is a free or low-cost form of public health insurance that covers children who are younger than age 19. The child must not already have health insurance coverage, and must come from a family whose income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The website says:
“Children need health insurance. If you think your children may qualify, apply today.”
There is an easy to read chart on the KCHIP website that shows the total number of family members, the total monthly family income (before taxes), and the total annual family income (before taxes). A family must fit into these income limits in order for their children to qualify for KCHIP.
A parent cannot voluntarily leave a job and expect his or her kids to be immediately covered by KCHIP benefits. There is a six month waiting period. It also takes about 30 calendar days from the date your application is processed to for state to determine if your children are eligible for KCHIP. Coverage is not immediate.
KCHIP covers doctor visits, dental care, hospitalization, outpatient hospital services, psychiatrists, lab tests and X-rays, vision exams, hearing services, mental health services, and prescription medications. Not every CHIP program covers mental health, but KCHIP does.
There is a co-payment required for prescription medicine. Pharmacy co-payments can range in cost from $1.00 to $3.00 per prescription. It depends on the type of medication that your child receives.
There is no co-payment for allergy shots. Allergy testing requires a $2.00 co-payment. A visit to an emergency room requires a $6.00 co-payment (if the situation was not a true emergency). No family will pay more than $450.00 in co-payments in a year.
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