Medicaid for Children

Medicaid provides health coverage for children who meet certain eligibility criteria.

Medicaid is federal program that provides low-income individuals/families healthcare coverage. Medicaid for Children, also referred to as CHIP, Children’s Health Insurance Program, provides low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to buy private insurance. The goal of CHIP is to make sure children can go to the doctor, get medicine, and receive other important healthcare services. The program covers kids up to age 19, and the requirements to qualify for it can be different in each state.

Katie Beckett

Katie Beckett is a pathway to Medicaid for children living at home with long-term disabilities or complex medical needs, who may be eligible for Medicaid services even if their family income is above Medicaid federal poverty guidelines. To qualify for the Katie Beckett Program, certain conditions must be met:

Age: Be a child, living in Idaho, under the age of 19. Disability: To qualify for the Katie Beckett program your child must meet eligibility criteria for a complex medical need, a developmental disability, a physical disability, or a combination of those needs.

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY CRITERIA OVERVIEW:

• Have one of the following chronic conditions:
  • Autism
  • Intellectual disability
  • Seizure disorder
  • Cerebral palsy
• Substantial limited ability to function in at least three (3) of the following major life activities;
  • Self care
  • Receptive and expressive language
  • Learning
  • Mobility
  • Self direction
  • Capacity of independent living or Economic self sufficiency
• Require services which are of lifelong or for an extended duration

COMPLEX MEDICAL NEED OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY CRITERIA OVERVIEW:

• Have a chronic condition
• Child has a disability which meets SSI criteria according to disability evaluation under Social Security
• Child requires level of care provided in a medical institution
• Child’s physician has completed an evaluation identifying services necessary to maintain child at home
• It is safe and appropriate to provide care to the child in the home