The portion of Medicaid that covers children is often called CHIP. It stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program. Individual states can add a name to this program, if they want to. In Wyoming, CHIP is also called Kid Care CHIP.
Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It is designed to cover people who are low-income, and who cannot afford to purchase a health insurance plan from a private company. Often, Medicaid programs cover families, children, and adults who are pregnant, disabled, or over the age of 65.
Every state has a portion of their Medicaid program that is specifically intended to provide health insurance coverage for families who cannot afford to buy a private health insurance plan that covers their children. It is often called CHIP, which stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program. In Wyoming, CHIP is also called Kid Care, or Kid Care CHIP.
There are eligibility requirements that must be met in order for a child to be covered by Kid Care CHIP. It can cover children up to the month that they turn 19. The child must be a resident of Wyoming. The child must also be a United States citizen, or lawful permanent resident, who has lived in the United States for at least five years or more. An alien registration number is required.
In order to be covered by Kids Care CHIP, the child must not be eligible for EqualityCare, (Wyoming’s Medicaid program). The child must have gone without health insurance coverage for 30 days prior to applying. The exception to that requirement would be if the insurance was involuntarily canceled. The child cannot be covered by Kids Care CHIP if he or she is currently placed in a public institution. Children who are a dependent of State employees are not eligible for Kids Care CHIP.
There are income requirements that must be met by the family of a child who is to be covered by Kids Care CHIP. A child who is under the age of 6 whose family income is at, or below, 133% of the federal poverty level can qualify. Children who are age 6 through 18, whose family income is at, or below, 100% of the federal poverty level can also qualify. A newborn, (which is considered to be birth through the age of 1), who is born to a Medicaid qualified mother can also qualify.
Wyoming also has a Children’s Mental Health Waiver. It is for children “who have experienced a serious emotional disturbance to remain in the community and receive specialized services”. There are no co-payments or premium costs for this program.
The program is for children age 4 through 20. There is a clinical eligibility based on requirements set by the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services division. Income requirements state that the gross monthly income limit is $2,094. Resource limits for eligibility are $2,000 for an individual. Only the child’s resources or income are included, not those of the parents.
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