Resources
Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Offer Free Or Low-Cost Health Coverage To Children And Families
March 8, 2010
If you are eligible for health coverage from your employer, but are unable to afford the premiums, some States have premium assistance programs that can help pay for coverage. These States use funds from their Medicaid or CHIP programs to help people who are eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage, but need assistance in paying their health premiums.
If you or your dependents are already enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP and you live in a State listed below, you can contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office to find out if premium assistance is available.
If you or your dependents are NOT currently enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and you think you or any of your dependents might be eligible for either of these programs, you can contact your State Medicaid or CHIP office or dial 1-877-KIDS NOW or www.insurekidsnow.gov to find out how to apply. If you qualify, you can ask the State if it has a program that might help you pay the premiums for an employer-sponsored plan.
Once it is determined that you or your dependents are eligible for premium assistance under Medicaid or CHIP, your employer’s health plan is required to permit you and your dependents to enroll in the plan – as long as you and your dependents are eligible, but not already enrolled in the employer’s plan. This is called a “special enrollment” opportunity, and you must request coverage within 60 days of being determined eligible for premium assistance.
If you live in one of the following States, you may be eligible for assistance paying your employer health plan premiums. The following list of States is current as of January 22, 2010. You should contact your State for further information on eligibility:
ALABAMA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.medicaid.alabama.gov
Phone: 1-800-362-1504
ALASKA – Medicaid
Website: http://health.hss.state.ak.us/dpa/programs/medicaid/
Phone (Outside of Anchorage): 1-888-318-8890
Phone (Anchorage): 907-269-6529
ARIZONA – CHIP
Website: http://www.azahcccs.gov/applicants/default.aspx
Phone: 602-417-5422
ARKANSAS – CHIP
Website: http://www.arkidsfirst.com/
Phone: 1-888-474-8275
CALIFORNIA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/ Pages/default.aspx
Phone: 1-800-635-2570
COLORADO – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: http://www.colorado.gov/
Medicaid Phone: 1-800-866-3513
CHIP Website: http:// www.CHPplus.org
CHIP Phone: 303-866-3243
FLORIDA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Medicaid/index.shtml
Phone: 1-866-762-2237
GEORGIA – Medicaid
Website: http://dch.georgia.gov/
Click on Programs, then Medicaid
Phone: 1-800-869-1150
IDAHO – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: www.accesstohealthinsurance.idaho.gov
Medicaid Phone: 208-334-5747
CHIP Website: www.medicaid.idaho.gov
CHIP Phone: 1-800-926-2588
INDIANA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.in.gov/fssa/2408.htm
Phone: 1-877-438-4479
IOWA – Medicaid
Website: www.dhs.state.ia.us/hipp/
Phone: 1-888-346-9562
KANSAS – Medicaid
Website: https://www.khpa.ks.gov
Phone: 1-800-635-2570
KENTUCKY – Medicaid
Website: http://chfs.ky.gov/dms/default.htm
Phone: 1-800-635-2570
LOUISIANA – Medicaid
Website: www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/?ID=92
Phone: 1-888-342-0555
MAINE – Medicaid
Website: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/oms/
Phone: 1-800-321-5557
MASSACHUSETTS – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid & CHIP Website: http://www.mass.gov/MassHealth
Medicaid & CHIP Phone: 1-800-462-1120
MINNESOTA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/
Click on Health Care, then Medical Assistance
Phone: 800-657-3739
MISSOURI – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dss.mo.gov/mhd/index.htm
Phone: 573-751-6944
MONTANA – Medicaid
Website: http://medicaidprovider.hhs.mt.gov/clientpages/clientindex.shtml
Telephone: 1-800-694-3084
NEBRASKA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/med/medindex.htm
Phone: 1-877-255-3092
NEVADA – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: http://dwss.nv.gov/
Medicaid Phone: 1-800-992-0900
CHIP Website: http://www.nevadacheckup.nv.org/
CHIP Phone: 1-877-543-7669
NEW HAMPSHIRE – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/MEDICAIDPROGRAM/default.htm
Phone: 1-800-852-3345 x 5254
NEW JERSEY – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: http://www.state.nj.us/humanservices/dmahs/clients/medicaid/
Medicaid Phone: 1-800-356-1561
CHIP Website: http://www.njfamilycare.org/index.html
CHIP Phone: 1-800-701-0710
NEW MEXICO – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/mad/index.html
Medicaid Phone: 1-888-997-2583
CHIP Website: http://www.hsd.state.nm.us/mad/index.html
Click on Insure New Mexico
CHIP Phone: 1-888-997-2583
NEW YORK – Medicaid
Website: http://www.nyhealth.gov/health_care/medicaid/
Phone: 1-800-541-2831
NORTH CAROLINA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.nc.gov
Phone: 919-855-4100
NORTH DAKOTA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.nd.gov/dhs/services/medicalserv/medicaid/
Phone: 1-800-755-2604
OKLAHOMA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.insureoklahoma.org
Phone: 1-888-365-3742
OREGON – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/index.shtml
Medicaid Phone: 1-800-359-9517
CHIP Website: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/healthplan/app_benefits/ohp4u.shtml
CHIP Phone: 1-800-359-9517
PENNSYLVANIA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/partnersproviders/medicalassistance/doingbusiness/003670053.htm
Phone: 1-800-644-7730
RHODE ISLAND – Medicaid
Website: www.dhs.ri.gov
Phone: 401-462-5300
SOUTH CAROLINA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.scdhhs.gov
Phone: 1-888-549-0820
TEXAS – Medicaid
Website: https://www.gethipptexas.com/
Phone: 1-800-440-0493
UTAH – Medicaid
Website: http://health.utah.gov/medicaid/
Phone: 1-866-435-7414
VERMONT– Medicaid
Website: http://ovha.vermont.gov/
Telephone: 1-800-250-8427
VIRGINIA – Medicaid and CHIP
Medicaid Website: http://www.famis.org/
Medicaid Phone: 1-800-432-5924
CHIP Website: http://www.famis.org/
CHIP Phone: 1-866-873-2647
WASHINGTON – Medicaid
Website: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/
Phone: 1-800-562-6136
WEST VIRGINIA – Medicaid
Website: http://www.wvrecovery.com/hipp.htm
Phone: 304-342-1604
WISCONSIN – Medicaid
Website: http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/publications/p-10095.htm
Phone: 1-800-362-3002
WYOMING – Medicaid
Website: http://www.health.wyo.gov/healthcarefin/index.html
Telephone: 307-777-7531
To see if any more States have added a premium assistance program since January 22, 2010, or for more information on special enrollment rights, you can contact either:
U.S. Department of Labor
Employee Benefits Security Administration
www.dol.gov/ebsa
1-866-444-EBSA (3272)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services
www.cms.hhs.gov
1-877-267-2323, ext. 61565
OMB Control Number 1210-0137 (expires 07/31/2010)
