FAQ

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Frequently Asked Questions

Regarding Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)

Who should apply for Children’s Health Insurance Plan coverage?
Parents should apply for benefits on behalf of their children – so long as the children reside with them.

What if the children do not reside with the parent but that parent has been court ordered to provide health insurance coverage. Can he or she apply for CHIP coverage on behalf of the children?
No. Parents can only apply on behalf of children who reside with them.

Should grandparents apply for CHIP for their grandchildren?
In situations such as this, the grandchildren are typically eligible for Medicaid. It would be more expedient to direct the family to Medicaid before CHIP.

If two families cohabitate (e.g., mom and her 2 children plus boyfriend and his 2 children) can they apply for CHIP coverage on a single application?
Yes. Two families cohabitating should apply on the same application.

What if mom and boyfriend have a child together – in addition to their own?
Because they have a child in common, both parents and their combined families can be included on a single application.

Should an unborn child be included on the application?
Yes. The unborn child is counted as a household member and consequently increases the amount of income the family can have.

How soon after the child is born can he/she be enrolled in CHIP?
Generally, the new family member will be enrolled the first day of the month following the reported birth (providing siblings are currently enrolled on CHIP).

What is the correct procedure for adding a new family member for the CHIP enrollment?
A change of family circumstances can be reported by calling the CHIP toll-free hot-line (1-877-543-7669) or by sending in a CHIP Change of Information Form.

Note: Some families are completing a new application instead of a Change of Information Form to have an additional child enrolled under CHIP. This is confusing and may delay enrollment of the child.

My 6 and 9-year-old children are eligible for CHIP but my 3-year-old is considered to be ‘potentially eligible for Medicaid’. Why can’t I have all three enrolled under CHIP?
Federal regulations require that all children be screened for Medicaid eligibility before being determined eligible for CHIP. If a child is ‘potentially eligible for Medicaid’ based on the information provided, the application is forwarded to the local Office of Public Assistance. The Office of Public Assistance determines whether the child is eligible for Medicaid coverage. Children determined ineligible for Medicaid coverage will be eligible for CHIP coverage along with their siblings.

It is common for children younger than 6 to be Medicaid eligible while their older siblings are eligible for CHIP. This occurs because the Medicaid income guidelines are 133% of poverty for children ages 0 through 5 and 100% of poverty for children age 6 and older. Example: Family’s countable income is 125% of poverty; the 3-year-old is Medicaid eligible (i.e., income is less than 133% of poverty) and the 6- and 9-year-olds are not Medicaid eligible (i.e., income exceeds 100% of poverty).

What can families do to ensure timely processing of their CHIP application?

Write or print legibly
Complete the application accurately (i.e., provide child’s given name, correct date of birth, correct Social Security Number, Montana residency, U.S. citizenship and whether they are applying on behalf of each child)
Include all family members on the application
Answer the resource question – Do countable resources exceed $3,000 in value?
List all earned and unearned family income on the application.

Note: A CHIP application is good for 60 days from the date it is processed so it is incumbent upon the family to provide all necessary information as soon as possible. If the information is not received within that period of time, a new application will be required.

I just applied for CHIP and my daughter is eligible. When will her insurance coverage start?
A child who is determined eligible for CHIP has met all of the eligibility criteria. However, her insurance coverage cannot begin until space becomes available and she is actually enrolled under the insurance. Your family will be notified when coverage begins.

What should the family know about CHIP re-enrollment?

Original coverage will end on the date stated on their re-enrollment notice
No extensions will be granted
Application must be completed as noted above
The child will continue to have coverage so long as he or she is determined eligible before CHIP coverage ends
If the child is not determined eligible before the original coverage ends, he or she will be placed on the Waiting List