Medicaid, in every state, has a portion that is designed to cover children. In some states, it is simply called CHIP, which stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program. In Louisiana, there are several different Medicaid programs that cover kids. There is a helpful chart that explains them all.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It is designed to provide low-income individuals and families with an affordable form of health insurance coverage. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also funded, in part, by the government of an individual state.
In Louisiana, the Medicaid program is administered by the Department of Health and Hospitals. There are several different ways that a person can apply for Medicaid in Louisiana. This state is among the ones that allow people to apply online.
All Medicaid programs have at least one portion that covers children who come from low-income families. Sometimes, the program is called CHIP, which stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program. Louisiana has several different programs that cover kids. The state has created a handy chart that gives a brief explanation of each of them.
Louisiana Medicaid provides health care coverage to children and families who meet certain income qualifications. This is their “regular” Medicaid program, (for lack of a better term). Low-income parents who need health insurance for their children should apply for Medicaid.
Parents that need health insurance for their kids, but who make too much to qualify for Medicaid, might try LACHIP or LACHIP Affordable Plan. LACHIP stands for Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program. It covers kids who come from working families where parents earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level. LACHIP Affordable Plan is for kids whose parents earn too much to qualify for LACHIP and earn below 250% of the federal poverty level.
The Family Opportunity Act Medicaid is for higher-income families who have children with disabilities. It allows parents to buy in to the Medicaid program for health care coverage. Families who earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level, and who need health insurance coverage for a child who has a disability, may be eligible for this program.
These are just a few of the possibilities for parents who live in Louisiana who are seeking health insurance coverage for their children through the Medicaid program. For more information, I recommend that you go to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals website and look around. Louisiana has done an excellent job of making information about Medicaid accessible.
Image by Jeff Kubina on Flickr