If you've recently been laid off or cannot keep your child covered on your job's insurance plan for any reason, you may be looking for alternative, low-cost coverage for your child. The State Children's Health Insurance Program may be able to help you. This program receives federal funding, but it is operated at the state level, and provides coverage to children (and in some cases, their parents) whose family income falls below a certain threshold.
Difficulty: Hard
Time Required: Several hours
Here's How:
- First, you need to find contact information for your state's SCHIP program. This is not always easy to do because states sometimes give their SCHIP programs cute names like Connecticut's HUSKY (Healthcare for UninSured Kids and Youth) program or Georgia's PeachCare for Kids. Find your state's SCHIP program website and/or contact information by visiting the state-specific information page for your state, or by contacting your state's insurance department and asking about the State Children's Health Insurance Program.
- Next, learn more about the eligibility requirements for your state's SCHIP program. Each state administers its own SCHIP program, so the eligibility rules vary from state to state. Most SCHIP programs have a website with eligibility information, which usually consists of an income chart based on family size. Sometimes, instead of providing a chart, a state will specify income limits as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Learn more about your state's SCHIP program rules regarding waiting periods. Some states require that children be uninsured for six months prior to enrolling in SCHIP. In most states, if the child's parent lost coverage involuntarily due to a layoff, this waiting period does not apply, but this is not always the case. Be sure to double-check with your state's program to see if your child will be subject to a waiting period. Call or email them to specifically ask about this.
- Once you've determined that your child is eligible for SCHIP, obtain an application and fill it out. Most state programs have a link to their application available on their website. You can also call the program and ask them to mail you an application. SCHIP applications usually ask for documentation of your family's income and information about the child to be enrolled. They are also likely to ask for proof of citizenship and identity.
- Send in your application! Some states allow you to apply online, which will expedite the process. If you are concerned about when coverage will begin, contact your state's SCHIP program directly for more information about processing your application.
