Medicaid is a public health insurance program that exists in every state. Most states have a portion of their Medicaid program that is specifically designed to cover children who come from low-income families. Often, this is called CHIP, or Children’s Health Insurance Program. In Missouri, it is called HealthNet for Kids.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It is designed to provide affordable health insurance coverage for individuals and families who are unable to afford to purchase a health insurance plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. The rest of the funding comes from the government of an individual state.
In Missouri, the Medicaid program is administered by the Missouri Department of Social Services. It falls under their MO HealthNet Division. Most states have a separate portion of their Medicaid program that is specifically designed to cover children who come from low-income families. Often, this is called CHIP or Children’s Health Insurance Program. In Missouri, that program is called HealthNet for Kids.
The state of Missouri does a nice job of making it simple for people to find out information about the HealthNet for Kids program. You can click on a brightly colored link to eligibility requirements, frequently asked questions, and much more.
The HealthNet for Kids program, according to the MO HealthNet for Kids website, “provides healthcare coverage for children under 19 years of age whose family income falls within certain guidelines”. The child must be a United States citizen or an eligible qualified non-citizen. The child must currently live in Missouri and intend to remain living in the state.
In order to be covered by HealthNet for Kids, a child must have applied for a Social Security Number. The parent of a child who is eligible to be covered by HealthNet for Kids “must cooperate with Child Support Enforcement (CSE) in the pursuit of medical support”. I’m not entirely sure what this means.
The child must also come from a family whose countable family income meets the income guidelines. Children under age 1 can qualify if their family’s income is 185% of the federal poverty level. Kids ages 1 through 5 can qualify if their family’s income is 133% of the federal poverty level. Kids who are between the ages of 6 and 18 can qualify if their family’s income is 100% of the federal poverty level.
The website also says “Uninsured children whose income is over the above limits, and whose monthly gross family income is under 150% of the federal poverty level, are also eligible for MO HealthNet forKids (Non- SCHIPP) program.
Image by Smabs Sputzer on Flickr