Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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 is reported by calling the CHIP Family Health Line at 1-877-KidsNow (1-877-543-7669) or by e-mailing the change to chip@mt.gov It is not necessary to complete a new application to have an additional child enrolled in CHIP..
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 asset question
- 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 very important 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?
After the child is determined eligible for CHIP, coverage will begin on the first of the following month. For example, if your child is determined eligible on January 15, 2006, coverage begins February 1, 2006. CHIP sends a letter to notify you when coverage begins.
What should I know about CHIP re-enrollment?
- Original coverage will end on the date stated on their re-enrollment notice
- No extensions will be granted
- The child will continue to have coverage so long as he or she is determined eligible before CHIP coverage ends
- Families need to reapply for CHIP every 12 months. Reapplication packets are sent prior to when current coverage ends.
Page last updated: 07/03/2006
