CHIP Policy

210 Age of a Child

Effective Date: January 1, 2024

Previous Policy

1. To qualify for CHIP, a child must be under the age of nineteen unless the child became pregnant while covered by CHIP.
2. A child must be under 19 years of age for at least one full day during the application month to enroll in the program.
   • An otherwise eligible child who is turning age 19 in the application month may receive CHIP for the application month, and the four-day grace period if applicable.
3. When a child who is enrolled in CHIP turns 19 years old and is not pregnant or in their 12-month postpartum period, the month in which the member’s nineteenth birthday occurs is the last month of eligibility. If a member turns 19 on the first of the month eligibility will end the last day of the previous month.
   1. Determine eligibility for other medical assistance programs, such as Adult Expansion, before closing CHIP.
   2. Using the parent or guardian signature, create a Medicaid program on a new case,
   3. Request a new signature page, and
   4. Narrate where the parent or guardian signature can be found.
4. A child who is enrolled in CHIP and is pregnant, will remain eligible for CHIP through the 12-month postpartum period even if that extends beyond age 19. See section 222 for exceptions to the extended postpartum coverage period.

NOTE: If the child who is enrolled in CHIP Plan B or C becomes pregnant again during their postpartum period, the member will remain eligible for CHIP through the subsequent pregnancy and 12-month postpartum period.

1. Ending Coverage:

• Determine eligibility for other medical assistance programs, such as Adult Expansion, before closing CHIP.
• Using the parent or guardian signature, create a Medicaid program on a new case,
• Request a new signature page, and
• Narrate where the parent or guardian signature can be found.