South Carolina has a Medicaid program that will cover children from low income families. It also has a Healthy Connections program for kids under age 19, and a program that covers children who are disabled.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It is designed to cover individuals and families who are low income and who cannot afford to buy a health plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded in part by the federal government and in part by the government of an individual state.
In South Carolina, the Medicaid program is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human services. The state’s Medicaid program has several portions that are designed to cover children who come from low income families.
The Low Income Families (LIF) program is for parents and children who meet Family Independence (FI) financial eligibility criteria but who do not receive a cash payment. A family with little or no income might be eligible (so long as the parent is not under a work sanction, and the family meets the eligibility criteria).
Those eligible for LIF will receive all Medicaid covered services. Eligibility requirements include: state residency, proof of identity, and proof of citizenship of the United States. The person must have a Social Security number.
The family must have countable net income at or below the appropriate needs standard, based on the family’s size. They family must have resources at or below $30,00 per Budget Group, and must have a dependent child living in the home.
The Healthy Connections plans can cover children who live in families with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. It covers kids who are under 19 years of age.
The family must have resources at or below $30,000 per Budget Group. Again, the child must be a state resident, and a citizen of the United States. Those covered by Healthy Connections will receive all Medicaid covered services.
The Disabled Children program is also called “Katie Beckett”. To be eligible a child must be under the age of 18, must live at home, and must meet the SSI definition of disability. The child (not the child’s family), must have a gross monthly income below $2,094 and countable resources at or below $2,000. The child must also meet an institutional level of care.
Those who qualify for the Disabled Children plan will receive the full range of Medicaid covered services. If the child needs special services, they must apply for and be accepted into one of the waiver programs to receive the special services.
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