In general, children in families with incomes up to $44,700/year (for a family of four in 2011) are likely to be eligible for Medicaid or CHIP coverage. In many states, families with higher incomes can still qualify for coverage for their children. This includes children in mandatory Medicaid eligibility groups, which states must cover in order to participate in Medicaid, as well as children in optional eligibility groups that a state may elect to cover (Medicaid, 2015).
All children from birth to age 6 with family incomes up to 133% ($29,700 for a family of four in 2011) and children age 6-18 with family incomes up to 100% ($22,350 for a family of four in 2011) are eligible for Medicaid. Other eligible children include infants born to women covered by Medicaid (known as "deemed newborns"), certain children in foster care or an adoption assistance program and certain children with disabilities (Medicaid, …show more content…
The programs provide coverage for a large percentage of children with special health care needs. Medicaid’s Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program, for example, is specifically designed to meet health needs from a child health perspective and serves a particularly important role for children with chronic health problems, whose families could falter, if not collapse, without its comprehensive approach (Bruner, Fitzgerald, Plaza, 2008). CHIP also ensures a comprehensive set of benefits for children, but states have flexibility to design the benefit package Medicaid, 2015). Within the state of Georgia Medicaid and CHIP provide no-cost or low-cost health coverage for eligible children in Georgia. Even if your children have been turned down in the past or you don’t know if they qualify, you may be able to get health coverage for them now (Insured Kids Now,